Oram  b$  A.  B    Frott 

"  Is  anybody  ever  hear  de  beat  er  dat  ?  " 

— "Brother  Uaboit't  Lat^Xfrnf 


TOLD  BY 
UNCLE  REMUS 

NEW  STORIES  OF  THE 
OLD   PLANTATION 

By 
Joel  Chandler  Harris 

ILLUSTRATED  BY 
A.  B.  FROST,  J.  M.  CONDE  AND  FRANK  VERBECK 


-*-$& 


McKINLAY,  STONE  &  MACKENZIE 
NEW  YORK 


Own/right,  1908,  1904,  1906.  b% 
JOEL  CHANDLER  HARRIS 


Copyright,  1903,  1904,  1909,  by  P.  F.  Collier  tic  Son.     Copyright,  1004,  IMfe  W 

The  Metropolitan  Magazine  Company. 


CONTENTS 


The  Reason  Why •    .    «  3 

I  Why  Mr.  Cricket  has  Elbows  on  his  Legs  .  19 

II  How  Wiley  Wolf  Rode  in  the  Bag  .    .    „    .  37 

HI  Brother  Rabbit's  Laughing-Place     ....  53 

IV  Brother  Rabbit  and  the  Chickens   ....  74 

V  Little  Mister  Cricket  and  the  Other  Crea« 

tures 87 

VI    When  Brother  Rabbit  was  King 101 

VH  How  Old  Craney-Crow  Lost  his  Head      .    .  126 

VHI  Brother  Fox  Follows  the  Fashion  ....  141 

IX  Why  the  Turkey -Buzzard  is  Bald-headed    ,  153 

X  Brother  Deer  an'  King  Sun's  Daughter  .    .  172 

XI  Brother  Rabbit's  Cradle  ........  188 

XH  Brother  Rabbit  and  Brother  Bull-Frog  .    .  205 

XHI    Why  Mr.  Dog  is  Tame 230 

XD7  Brother  Rabbit  and  the  Gizzard  Eater  .     .  243 

XV  Brother  Rabbit  and  Miss  Nancy  .....  266 

XVI  The  Hard-Headed  Woman      .......  276 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/toldbyuncleremusOharri 


THE  REASON   WHY 

THE  main  reason  why  Uncle  Remus  re- 
tired from  business  as  a  story-teller 
was  because  the  little  boy  to  whom  ke 
had  told  his  tales  grew  to  be  a  very  big  boy,  and 
grew  and  grew  till  he  could  n't  grow  any  big- 
ger. Meanwhile,  his  father  and  mother  moved 
to  Atlanta,  and  lived  there  for  several  years. 
Uncle  Remus  moved  with  them,  but  he  soon 
grew  tired  of  the  dubious  ways  of  city  life,  and 
one  day  he  told  his  Miss  Sally  that  if  she 
did  n't  mind  he  was  going  back  to  the  planta- 
tion where  he  could  get  a  breath  of  fresh  air. 

He  was  overjoyed  when  the  lady  told  him  that 
they  were  all  going  back  as  soon  as  the  son  mar- 
ried. As  this  event  was  to  occur  in  the  course  of  a 
few  weeks,  Uncle  Remus  decided  to  wait  for  the 
rest  of  the  family.  The  wedding  came  off,  and 


4  fOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

then  the  father  and  mother  returned  to  the  plan- 
tation, and  made  their  home  there,  much  to  the 
delight  of  the  old  negro. 

In  course  of  time,  the  man  who  had  been  the 
little  boy  for  ever  so  long  came  to  have  a  little 
boy  of  his  own,  and  then  it  happened  in  the  most 
natural  way  in  the  world  that  the  little  boy's  little 
boy  fell  under  the  spell  of  Uncle  Remus,  who  was 
still  hale  and  hearty  in  spite  of  his  age. 

This  latest  little  boy  was  frailer  and  quieter 
than  his  father  had  been;  indeed,  he  was  fragile, 
and  had  hardly  any  color  in  his  face.  But  he  was  a 
beautiful  child,  too  beautiful  for  a  boy.  He  had 
large,  dreamy  eyes,  and  the  quaintest  little  ways 
that  ever  were  seen;  and  he  was  polite  and 
thoughtful  of  others.  He  was  very  choice  in  the 
use  of  words,  and  talked  as  if  he  had  picked 
his  language  out  of  a  book.  He  was  a  source  of 
perpetual  wonder  to  Uncle  Remus;  indeed,  he 
was  the  wonder  of  wonders,  and  the  old  negro 
had  a  way  of  watching  him  curiously.  Sometimes, 
as  the  result  of  this  investigation,  which  was  con- 
tinuous, Uncle  Remus  would  shake  his  head  and 


THE  REASON  WHY  9 

chuckle;  at  other  times,  he  would  shake  his  head 
and  sigh. 

This  little  boy  was  not  like  the  other  little  boy. 
He  was  more  like  a  girl  in  his  refinement;  all  the 
boyishness  had  been  taken  out  of  him  by  that 
mysterious  course  of  discipline  that  some 
mothers  know  how  to  apply.  He  seemed  to  belong 
to  a  different  age  —  to  a  different  time;  just  how 
or  why,  it  would  be  impossible  to  say.  Still,  the 
fact  was  so  plain  that  any  one  old  enough  an<J 
wise  enough  to  compare  the  two  little  boys  ■ — 
one  the  father  of  the  other  —  could  not  fail  to  see 
the  difference ;  and  it  was  a  difference  not  wholly 
on  the  surface.  Miss  Sally,  the  grandmother, 
could  see  it,  and  Uncle  Remus  could  see  it;  but 
for  all  the  rest  the  tendencies  and  characteristics 
«*f  this  iater  little  boy  were  a  matter  of  course. 

"  Miss  Sally, "  said  Uncle  Remus,  a  few  days 
after  the  arrival  of  the  little  boy  and  his  mother, 
u  what  dey  gwineter  do  wid  dat  chile  ?  What  dey 
gwineter  make  out  *n  'im  ?  " 

"I'm  sure  I  don't  know,"  she  replied.  "A 
grandmother  does  n't  count  for  much  these  day* 


9  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

unless  there  is  illness.  She  is  everything  for  a  few 
hours,  and  then  she  is  nothing,"  There  was  no 
bitterness  in  the  lady's  tone,  but  there  was  plenty 
of  feeling  —  feeling  that  only  a  grandmother  can 
appreciate  and  understand. 

"I  speck  dat  's  so,"  Uncle  Remus  remarked; 
"  an'  a  ole  nigger  dat  oughter  been  dead  long  ago, 
by  good  rights,  don't  count  no  time  an'  nowhar. 
But  it 's  a  pity  —  a  mighty  pity. " 

"What  is  a  pity?"  the  lady  inquired,  though 
she  knew  full  well  what  was  in  the  old  negro's 
mind. 

"  I  can't  tell  you,  ma'am,  an'  't  would  n't  be  my 
place  ter  tell  you  ef  I  could ;  but  dar  'tis,  an'  you 
can't  rub  it  out.  I  see  it,  but  I  can't  say  it;  I 
knows  it,  but  I  can't  show  you  how  ter  put  yo* 
finger  on  it;  yit  it 's  dar  ef  I  'm  name  Remus. " 

The  grandmother  sat  silent  so  long,  and  gazed 
at  the  old  negro  so  seriously,  that  he  became 
restive.  He  placed  the  weight  of  his  body  first  on 
one  foot  and  then  on  the  other,  and  finally  struck 
blindly  at  some  imaginary  object  with  the  end  of 
his  walking-cane. 


THE  REASON   WHY  7 

"  I  hope  you  ain't  mad  wid  me,  Miss  Sally, "  he 
said. 

"With  you?"  she  cried.  "Why—  "  She  was 
sitting  in  an  easy-chair  on  the  back  porch,  where 
the  warmth  of  the  sun  could  reach  her,  but  she 
rose  suddenly  and  went  into  the  house.  She  made 
a  noise  with  her  throat  as  she  went,  so  that  Uncl6 
Remus  thought  she  was  laughing,  and  chuckled 
in  response,  though  he  felt  little  like  chuckling. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  if  his  Miss  Sally  had  remained 
on  the  porch  one  moment  longer  she  would  kave 
burst  into  tears. 

She  went  in  the  house,  however,  and  was  able 
to  restrain  herself.  The  little  boy  caught  at  the 
skirt  of  her  dress,  saying:  "Grandmother,  you 
have  been  sitting  in  the  sun,  and  your  face  is  red. 
Mother  never  allows  me  to  sit  in  the  sun  for  fear  I 
will  freckle.  Father  says  a  few  freckles  would  help 
me,  but  mother  says  they  would  be  shocking. " 

Unele  Remus  received  his  dinner  from  the  big 
house  that  day,  and  by  that  token  he  knew  that 
his  Miss  Sally  was  very  well  pleased  with  him. 
The  dinner  was  brought  on  a  waiter  by  a  strap- 


8  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

ping  black  girl,  with  a  saucy  smile  and  ivory- 
white  teeth.  She  was  a  favorite  with  Uncle  Re- 
mus, because  she  was  full  of  fun.  "  I  dimner  how 
come  de  white  folks  treat  you  better  dan  dey 

:  does  de  balance  un  us, "  she  declared,  as  she  sat 
the  waiter  on  the  small  pine  table  and  removed 
the  snowy  napkin  with  which  it  was  covered. 
M I  know  it  ain't  on  'count  er  yo'  beauty,  kaze  yo' 
ain't  no  purtier  dan  what  I  is,"  she  went  on, 
tossing  her  head  and  showing  her  white  teeth. 

Uncle  Remus  looked  all  around  on  the  floor, 
pretending  to  be  looking  for  some  weapon  that 
would  be  immediately  available.  Finding  none, 
he  turned  with  a  terrible  make-believe  frown, 
and  pointed  his  forefinger  at  the  girl,  who  was 

I  now  as  far  as  the  door,  her  white  teeth  gleaming 
as  she  laughed. 

"Mark  my  words,"  he  said  solemnly;  "ef  I 

>  don't  brain  you  befo'  de  week  's  out  it  '11  be  be- 
kaze  you  done  been  gobbled  up  by  de  Unkollop- 
sanall. "  The  girl  stopped  laughing  instantly,  and 
became  serious.  The  threats  of  age  have  a  mean- 
ing that  all  the  gaiety  of  youth  cannot  overcome. 


THE  REASON  WHY  © 

The  gray  hair  of  Uncle  Remus,  his  impersona- 
tion of  wrath,  his  forefinger  held  up  in  warning* 
made  his  threat  so  uncanny  that  the  girl  shivered 
in  spite  of  the  fact  that  she  thought  he  was  joking. 
Let  age  shake  a  finger  at  you,  and  you  feel  that 
there  is  something  serious  behind  the  gesture. 

Now,  Miss  Sally  had  taken  advantage  of  the 
opportunity  to  send  the  grandchild  with  the  girl; 
she  was  anxious  that  he  should  make  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Uncle  Remus,  and  have  instilled 
into  his  mind  the  quaint  humor  that  she  knew 
would  remain  with  him  all  his  life,  and  become  a 
fragrant  memory  when  he  grew  old.  But  the  later 
little  boy  was  very  shy,  and  when  he  saw  the  ter- 
rible frown  and  the  threatening  gesture  with 
which  Uncle  Remus  had  greeted  the  girl,  he 
shrank  back  in  a  corner,  seeing  which  the  old 
negro  began  to  laugh.  It  was  not  a  genuine  laugh, 
but  it  was  so  well  done  that  it  answered  every 
purpose. 

"  I  don't  see  nothin'  ter  laugh  at, "  remarked 
the  girl,  and  with  that  she  flirted  out. 

Uncle  Remus  turned  to  the  little  boy.  "  Honey, 


10  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

you  look  so  much  like  Brer  Rabbit  dat  I  bleeze  ter 
laugh.  'Long  at  fust,  I  had  a  notion  dat  you 
mought  be  Mr.  Cricket.  But  youer  too  big  fer 
dat,  an'  den  you  ain't  got  no  elbows  in  yo'  legs. 
An'  den  I  know'd  'twuz  Brer  Rabbit  I  had  in 
ruin'.  Yasser,  dey  ain't  no  two  ways  'bout  dat  — 
you  look  like  Brer  Rabbit  when  he  tryin'  fer  ter 
make  up  his  min'  whedder  ter  run  er  no. " 

Then,  without  waiting  to  see  the  effect  of  this 
remark,  Uncle  Remus  turned  his  attention  to  the 
waiter  and  its  contents.  "Well,  suh!"  he  ex- 
claimed, with  apparent  surprise,  "  ef  dar  ain't  a 
slishe  er  tater  custard !  An'  ef  I  ain't  done  gone 
stone  blin',  dar's  a  dish  er  hom'ny  wid  ham  gravy 
on  it!  Yes,  an*  bless  gracious,  dar's  a  piece  er  ham! 
Dey  all  look  like  oP  'quaintances  which  dey  been 
gone  a  long  time  an'  des  come  back;  an'  dey  look 
like  deyer  laughin'  kaze  dey  er  glad  ter  see  me.  I 
i  wish  you  'd  tome  here,  honey,  an'  see  ef  dey 
ain't  laughin';  you  got  better  eyes  dan  what 
lis." 

The  lure  was  entirely  successful.  The  little  bov 
came  forward  timidly,  and  when  he  was  within 


THE  REASON  WHY  IV 

reach,  Uncle  Remus  placed  him  gently  on  his 
knee.  The  child  glanced  curiously  at  the  dishes. 
He  had  heard  so  much  of  Uncle  Remus  from  his 
father  and  his  grandmother  that  he  was  inclined 
to  believe  everything  the  old  man  said.  "Why, 
they  are  not  laughing,"  he  exclaimed.  "How 
could   they?" 

"I  speck  my  eyes  is  bad,"  replied  Uncle 
Remus.  "  When  anybody  gits  ter  be  a  himbly  an* 
hombly-hombly  year  ol'  dey  er  liable  fer  ter  see 
double." 

The  child  was  a  very  serious  child,  but  he 
laughed  in  spite  of  himself.  "Oh,  pshaw!"  he 
exclaimed. 

"I  'm  mighty  glad  you  said  dat, "  remarked 
Uncle  Remus,  smacking  his  lips,  "kaze  ef  you 
had  n't  'a'  said  it,  I  'd  'a'  been  a  bleeze  ter  say  it 
myse'f. " 

"Say  what?"  inquired  the  little  boy,  who  was 
unused  to  the  quips  of  the  old  man. 

"'Bout  dat  tater  custard.  It 's  de funniest tater 
custard  dat  I  ever  laid  eyes  on,  dey  ain't  no  two 
ways  'bout  dat." 


12  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

"  Grandmother  wanted  to  give  me  some, "  said 
the  little  boy  longingly,  "but  mother  said  it 
was  n't  good  for  me. " 

"Aha!"  exclaimed  Uncle  Remus  in  a  tone  of 
triumph.  "What  I  tell  you?  Miss  Sally  writ  on 
here  wid  dese  dishes  dat  she  want  you  ter  eat  dat 
tater  custard.  Mo'  dan  dat  she  sont  two  pieces. 
Dar's  one,  an'  dar  de  yuther. "  There  was  n't 
anything  wrong  about  this  counting,  except  that 
Uncle  Remus  pointed  twice  at  the  same  piece. 

The  little  boy  was  sitting  on  Uncle  Remus's 
knee,  and  he  turned  suddenly  and  looked  into  the 
weather-beaten  face  that  had  harbored  so  many 
smiles.  The  child  seemed  to  be  searching  for 
something  in  that  venerable  countenance,  and  he 
must  have  found  it,  for  he  allowed  his  head  to  fall 
against  the  old  negro's  shoulder  and  held  it  there. 
The  movement  was  as  familiar  to  Uncle  Remus 
as  the  walls  of  his  cabin,  for  among  all  the  chil- 
dren that  he  had  known  well,  not  one  had  failed 
to  lay  his  head  where  that  of  the  little  boy  now 
rested. 

"  Miss  Sally  is  de  onliest  somebody  in  de  roun' 


THE  REASON  WHY  13 

worl'  dat  know  what  you  an'  me  like  ter  eat, "  re- 
marked Uncle  Remus,  making  a  great  pretense 
of  chewing.  "  I  dunner  how  she  fin'  out,  but  fin* 
out  she  did,  an'  we  oughter  be  mighty  much 
beholden  ter  'er.  I  done  et  my  piece  er  tater 
custard,"  he  went  on,  "an*  you  kin  eat  yone 
when  you  git  good  an'  ready. " 

"I  saw  only  one  piece,"  remarked  the  child, 
without  raising  his  head,  "  and  if  you  have  eaten 
that  there  is  none  left  for  me."  Uncle  Remus 
closed  his  eyes,  and  allowed  his  head  to  fall  back. 
This  was  his  favorite  attitude  when  confronted 
by  something  that  he  could  not  comprehend. 
This  was  his  predicament  now,  for  there  was 
something  in  this  child  that  was  quite  beyond 
him.  Small  as  the  lad  was  he  was  old-fashioned; 
he  thought  and  spoke  like  a  grown  person;  and 
this  the  old  negro  knew  was  not  according  to  na- 
ture. The  trouble  with  the  boy  was  that  he  had 
had  no  childhood;  he  had  been  subdued  and 
weakened  by  the  abnormal  training  he  had  re- 
ceived. 

"Tooby  sho  you  ain't  seed  urn,"  Uncle  Remus 


14  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

declared,  returning  to  the  matter  of  the  potato 
custard.  "  Ef  yo'  pa  had  'a'  been  in  yo'  place  he  'd 
'a'  seed  um,  kaze  when  he  wuz  long  'bout  yo'  age, 
he  had  mo'  eyes  in  his  stomach  dan  what  he  had 
his  head.  But  de  oF  nigger  Wuz  a  little  too  quick 
fer  you.  I  seed  de  two  pieces  time  de  gal  snatch  de 
towel  off,  an'  I  'low  ter  myse'f  dat  ef  I  did  n't 
snatch  one,  I  'd  not  git  none.  Yasser!  I  wuz  a  lit- 
tle too  quick  fer  you. " 

The  child  turned  his  head,  and  saw  that  the 
slice  of  potato  custard  was  still  on  the  plate. 
"I  'm  so  sorry  that  mother  thinks  it  will  hurt 
me,"  he  said  with  a  sigh. 

"Well,  whatsomever  she  say  'bout  de  yuther 
piece  er  custard,  I  boun'  she  ain't  say  dat  dat 
piece  'ud  hurt  you,  kaze  she  ain't  never  lay  eyes 
on  it.  An'  mo'  dan  dat,"  Uncle  Remus  went  on 
with  a  very  serious  face :  "  Miss  Sally  writ  wid  de 
dishes  dat  one  er  de  pieces  er  tater  custard  wuz 
fer  you. " 

"I  don't  see  any  writing,"  the  child  declared, 
with  a  longing  look  at  the  potato  custard. 

"  Miss  Sally  ain't  aim  fer  you  ter  see  it,  kaze  ef 


THE  REASON  WHY  IS 

you  could  see  it,  eve'ybody  could  see  it.  An'  dat 
ain't  all  de  reason  why  you  can't  see  it.  You  been 
hemmed  up  dar  in  a  big  town,  an'  yo'  eyes  ain*t 
good.  But  dar's  de  writin'  des  ez  plain  ez  pig- 
tracks.  "  Uncle  Remus  made  believe  to  spell  out 
the  writing,  pointing  at  a  separate  dish  every 
time  he  pronounced  a  word.  "Le'  me  see:  she  put 
dis  dish  fust  —  *  One  piece  is  fer  de  chilV  " 

The  little  boy  reflected  a  moment.  "There 
only  five  dishes, "  he  said  very  gravely,  "  and  you 
pointed  at  one  of  them  twice. " 

"  Tooby  sho  I  did, "  Uncle  Remus  replied,  with 
wel\  affected  solemnity.  "Ain't  dat  de  way  you 
does  in  books?" 

The  little  lad  was  too  young  to  be  well- 
grounded  in  books,  but  he  had  his  ideas,  never- 
theless. "I  don't  see  how  it  can  be  done,"  he 
suggested.  "  A  is  always  A. " 

"Ah-yi!"  exclaimed  Uncle  Remus  triumph- 
antly. "It  *s  allers  big  A  er  little  a.  But  I  wa'n't 
callin'  out  no  letters;  I  wuz  callin'  out  de  words 
what  yo*  granmammy  writ  wid  de  dishes. "  The 
little  boy  still  looked  doubtful,  and  Uncle  Remus 


Iff  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

went  on?  "Now,  spozin'  yo'  pa  wuz  ter  come 
long  an'  say,  ' Unk  Remus,  I  wanter  gi'  you  a 
cuff. '  An'  den,  spozin'  I  wuz  ter  'low, '  Yasser,  an' 
ihanky,  too,  but  you  better  gi'  me  a  pa'r  un  um 
while  you  'bout  it. '  An'  spozin'  he  'd  be  talkin' 
'bout  maulin'  me,  whiles  I  wuz  talkin'  'bout  dem 
contraptions  what  you  got  on  yo'  shirt-sleeves, 
an'  you  ain't  got  no  mo'  business  wid  um  dan  a 
rooster  is  wid  britches.  Spozin'  all  dat  wuz  ter 
happen,  how  you  speck  I  'd  feel  ?" 

Something  in  the  argument,  or  the  way  Uncle 
Remus  held  his  head,  appealed  to  the  little  boy's 
sense  of  humor,  and  he  laughed  heartily  for  the 
first  time  since  Uncle  Remus  had  known  him.  It 
was  real  laughter,  too,  so  real  that  the  old  negro 
joined  in  with  gusto,  and  the  two  laughed  and 
laughed  until  it  seemed  unreasonable  to  laugh 
any  more.  To  make  matters  worse,  Uncle  Remus 
pretended  to  become  yery  solemn  all  of  a  sudden, 
and  then  just  as  suddenly  went  back  to  laughter 
again.  This  was  more  than  the  little  chap  could 
stand.  He  laughed  until  he  writhed  in  the  old 
man's  arms;  in  fact,  till  laughter  became  painful. 


THE  REASON  WHY  17 

**Ef  we  go  on  dis  away,"  Uncle  Remus  re- 
marked, "you  '11  never  eat  yo'  tater  custard  in 
de  worl'. "  With  that,  he  seized  a  biscuit  and  pre- 
tended to  place  the  whole  of  it  in  his  mouth  at 
once,  closing  his  eyes  with  a  smile  of  ecstasy  on 
his  face.  "Don't,  Uncle  Remus!  please  don't!'* 
cried  the  little  boy  who  had  laughed  until  he  was 
sore. 

At  this  the  old  man  became  serious  again.  "I 
hear  urn  say,"  he  remarked  with  some  gravity, 
"  dat  ef  you  laugh  too  much  you  '11  sprain  yo' 
goozle-um,  er  maybe  git  yo'  th'oat-latch  outer 
j'int.  Dat  de  reason  you  see  me  lookin'  so  sollum- 
colly  all  de  time.  You  watch  me  right  close,  an* 
you  '11  see  fer  yo'se'f. " 

The  little  boy  ceased  laughing,  and  regarded 
Uncle  Remus  closely.  The  old  negro's  face  was 
as  solemn  as  the  countenance  of  one  of  the  early 
Puritans.  "You  were  laughing  just  now,"  said 
the  child;  "you  were  laughing  when  I  laughed." 

The  old  man  looked  off  into  space  as  though 
he  were  considering  a  serious  problem.  Then  he 
said  with  a  sigh:  "I  speck  I  did,  honey,  but  how 


38  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

I  gwineter  he'p  myse'f  when  I  see  you  winkin'  at 
dat  tater  custard  ?  I  mought  not  'a'  laughed  des 
at  dat,  but  when  I  see  you  bek'nin'  at  it  wid  yo' 
tongue,  I  wuz  bleeze  ter  turn  loose  my  hyuh- 
hyuh-hyuhs!" 

This  was  the  beginning  of  the  little  boy's  ac- 
quaintance with  Uncle  Remus,  of  whom  he  had 
heard  so  much.  Some  of  the  results  of  that  ac- 
quaintance are  to  be  set  forth  in  the  pages  that 
follow. 


WHY    MR.    CRICKET    HAS    ELBOWS    ON    HIS    LEGS 

IT  was  not  often  that  Uncle  Remus  had  to 
search  for  the  boys  who  had,  in  the  course 
of  a  very  long  life,  fallen  under  his  influence. 
On  the  contrary,  he  had  sometimes  to  plan  to  get 
rid  of  them  when  he  had  work  of  importance  to 
do ;  but  now,  here  he  was  in  his  old  age  searching 
all  about  for  a  little  chap  who  was  n't  as  big  as  a 
pound  of  soap  after  a  hard  day's  washing,  as 
the  old  man  had  said  more  than  once. 

The  child  had  promised  to  go  with  Uncle 
Remus  to  fetch  a  wagon-load  of  corn  that  had 
been  placed  under  shelter  in  a  distant  part  of 
the  plantation,  and  though  the  appointed  hour 
had  arrived,  and  the  carriage-horses  had  been 
hitched  to  the  wagon,  he  had  failed  to  put  in 
an  appearance. 

Uncle  Remus  had  asked  the  nurse,  a  mulatto 

19 


20  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

woman  from  the  city,  where  the  child  was,  and 
the  only  reply  she  deigned  to  make  was  that  he 
was  all  right.  This  nurse  had  been  offended  by 
Uncle  Remus,  who,  on  more  than  one  occasion, 
had  sent  her  about  her  business  when  he  wanted 
the  little  boy  to  himself.  She  resented  this  and  lost 
no  opportunity  to  show  her  contempt. 

All  his  other  resources  failing,  Uncle  Remus 
went  to  the  big  house  and  asked  his  Miss  Sally. 
She,  being  the  child's  grandmother,  was  pre- 
sumed to  know  his  whereabouts;  but  Miss  Sally 
was  not  in  a  very  good  humor.  She  sent  word  that 
she  was  very  busy,  and  did  n't  want  to  be  both- 
ered; bat  before  Uncle  Remus  could  retire,  aftei 
the  message  had  been  delivered,  she  relented. 
"What  is  it  now?"  she  inquired,  coming  to  the 

or. 

"1  wuz  des  huntin'  fer  de  little  chap,"  Uncle 
Remus  replied,  "  an'  I  'lowed  maybe  you  'd  know 
whar  he  wuz  at.  We  wuz  gwine  fer  ter  haul  a  load 
er  corn,  but  he  ain't  showed  up." 

"Well,  I  made  him  some  molasses  candy  — 
something  I  should  n't  have  done  —  and  he  has 


WHY  CRICKET  HAS  ELBOWS  ON  HIS  LEGS         21 

been  put  in  jail  because  he  wiped  his  mouth  on 
his  coat-sleeve." 

"In  jail,  ma'am  ?"  Uncle  Remus  asked,  aston- 
ishment written  on  his  face. 

"He  might  as  well  be  in  jail;  he  's  in  the  par- 
lor." 

"  Wid  de  winders  all  down  ?  He  '11  stifle  in  dar." 

The  grandmother  went  into  the  house  too  in- 
dignant to  inform  Uncle  Remus  that  she  had  sent 
the  house-girl  to  open  the  windows  under  the  pre- 
tense of  dusting  and  cleaning.  The  old  man  was 
somewhat  doubtful  as  to  how  he  should  proceed. 
He  knew  that  in  a  case  of  this  kind,  Miss  Sally- 
could  not  help  him.  She  had  set  herself  to  win 
over  the  young  wife  of  her  son,  and  she  knew  that 
she  would  cease  to  be  the  child's  grandmother 
and  become  the  mother-in-law  the  moment  her 
views  clashed  with  those  of  the  lad's  mother  — ■ 
and  we  all  know  from  the  newspapers  what  a  ter- 
rible thing  a  mother-in-law  is. 

Knowing  that  he  would  have  to  act  alone,  Un- 
cle Remus  proceeded  very  cautiously.  He  went 
around  into  the  front  yard,  and  saw  that  all  the 


28  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

parlor  windows  were  up  and  the  curtains  looped 
back,  something  that  had  never  happened  before 
in  his  experience.  To  his  mind  the  parlor  was  a 
dungeon,  and  a  very  dark  one  at  that,  and  he 
chuckled  when  he  saw  the  sunshine  freely  admit- 
ted, with  no  fear  that  it  would  injure  the  carpet. 
If  one  little  bit  of  a  boy  could  cause  such  a  change 
in  immemorial  custom,  what  would  two  little 
boys  be  able  to  do  ?  With  these  and  similar  home- 
ly thoughts  in  his  mind,  Uncle  Remus  cut  short 
his  chuckle  and  began  to  sing  about  little  Crick- 
ety  Cricket,  who  lives  in  the  thicket. 

Naturally,  this  song  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  little  lad,  who  had  exhausted  whatever  inter- 
est there  had  been  in  an  album,  and  was  now  be- 
ginning to  realize  that  he  was  a  prisoner.  He 
stuck  his  head  out  of  the  window,  and  regarded 
the  old  man  rather  ruefully.  "  I  could  n't  go  with 
you  after  the  corn,  Uncle  Remus;  mother  said  I 
was  too  naughty." 

"  I  ain't  been  atter  no  corn,  honey ;  I  hear  tell  er 
yo'  gwines  on,  an'  I  felt  too  bad  fer  ter  go  atter  de 
eorn;  but  de  waggin  's  all  ready  an'  a-waitin*. 


WHY  CRICKET  HAS  ELBOWS  ON  HIS  LEGS  28 
Dey  ain't  no  hurry  'bout  dat  corn.  Ef  you  can*t  go 
ter-day,  maybe  you  kin  go  ter-morrer,  er  ef  not, 
den  some  yuther  day.  Dey  ain't  nobody  hanker- 
in'  atter  corn  but  de  oP  gray  mule,  an'  he  'd  han- 
ker an'  whicker  fer  it  ef  you  wuz  ter  feed  'im  a 
waggin-load  three  times  a  day.  How  come  you  ter 
be  so  bad  dat  yo'  ma  hatter  shet  you  up  in  dat 
dungeon?  What  you  been  doin'?" 

"Mother  said  I  was  very  naughty  and  made 
me  come  in  here,"  the  little  lad  replied. 

"I  bet  you  ef  dey  had  'a'  put  yo'  pa  in  der, 
dey  would  n't  'a'  been  no  penanner  lef,  an'  da 
kyarpit  would  'a'  looked  like  it  been  thoo  a  harry- 
cane.  Dey  shet  'im  up  in  a  room  once,  an'  dey  wuz 
a  clock  in  it,  an'  he  tuck  'n  tuck  dat  clock  ter 
pieces  fer  ter  see  what  make  it  run.  'Twan't  no 
big  clock,  needer,  but  yo'  pa  got  nuff  wheels  out 
er  dat  clock  fer  ter  fill  a  peck  medjur,  an'  when 
dey  sont  it  ter  town  fer  ter  have  it  mended,  de 
clock  man  say  he  know  mighty  well  dat  all  dem 
wheels  ain't  come  outer  dat  clock.  He  mended  it 
all  right,  but  he  had  nuff  wheels  an'  whirligigs  left 
over  fer  ter  make  a  n'er  clock." 


tft  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

"There  's  a  clock  in  here,"  said  the  little  boy» 
**  but  it 's  in  a  glass  case." 

"  Don't  pester  it,  honey,  kaze  it 's  yo'  gran- 
ma's,  an'  'twant  yo*  granma  dat  had  you  shot  up 
in  dar.  No,  suh,  not  her  —  never  in  de  roun' 
worP." 

The  little  prisoner  sighed,  but  said  nothing.  He 
was  not  a  talkative  chap ;  he  had  been  taught  that 
it  is  impolite  to  ask  questions,  and  as  a  child's  con- 
versation must  necessarily  be  made  up  of  ques- 
tions, he  had  little  to  say.  Uncle  Remus  found  a 
rake  leaning  against  the  chimney.  This  he  took 
and  examined  critically,  and  found  that  one  of 
the  teeth  was  broken  out.  "Now,  I  wonder  who 
could  'a'  done  dat!"  he  exclaimed.  "Sholy  no- 
body would  n't  'a'  come  'long  an'  knock  de  toof 
out  des  fer  fun.  Ef  de  times  wuz  diffunt,  I  'd  say 
dat  a  cricket  hauled  off  an'  kicked  it  out  wid  one 
er  his  behime  legs.  But  times  done  change;  dey 
done  change  so  dat  when  I  turn  my  head  an'  look 
back'erds,  I  hatter  ketch  my  breff  I  gits  so 
skeer'd.  Dey  done  been  sech  a  change  dat  de 
crickets  ain't  dast  ter  kick  sence  ol'  Grandaddy 


WHY  CRICKET  HAS  ELBOWS  ON  HIS  LEGS  25 
Cricket  had  his  great  kickin'  match.  I  laid  off  fer 
ter  tell  you  'bout  it  when  we  wuz  gwine  atter  dat 
load  er  corn  dat 's  waitin'  fer  us;  but  stidder 
gwine  atter  corn,  here  you  is  settin'  in  de  parlor 
countin'  out  yo'  money."  Uncle  Remus  came 
close  to  the  window  and  looked  in.  "OP  Miss 
useter  keep  de  Bible  on  de  table  dar  —  yasser! 
dar  'tis,  de  same  oP  Bible  dat 's  been  in  de  fam* 
bly  sence  de  year  one.  You  better  git  it  down9 
honey,  an'  read  dat  ar  piece  'bout  de  projickin* 
son,  kaze  ef  dey  shet  you  up  in  de  parlor  now, 
dey  '11  hatter  put  you  in  jail  time  youer  ten  year 
ol'." 

This  remark  was  intended  for  the  ear  of  the 
young  mother,  who  had  come  into  the  front  yard 
searching  for  roses.  Uncle  Remus  had  seen  her 
from  the  corner  of  his  eye,  and  he  determined  to 
talk  so  she  could  hear  and  understand. 

"But  what  will  they  put  me  in  jail  for?"  the 
child  asked. 

"  What  dey  put  you  in  dar  fer  ?  Kaze  you  wipe 
yo*  mouf  on  yo'  sleeve.  Well,  when  you  git  a  little 
bigger,  you  '11  say  ter  yo'se'f ,  *  Dey  shet  me  in  de 


26  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

parlor  fer  nothin',  an'  now  I  '11  see  ef  dey  '11  put 
me  in  jail  fer  sump'n;'  an'  den  you  '11  make  a 
mouf  at  de  gov'ner  up  dar  in  Atlanta  —  I  know 
right  whar  his  house  is  —  an'  dey  '11  slap  you  in 
jail  an'  never  ax  yo'  name  ner  whar  you  come 
fum.  Dat  *s  de  way  dey  does  in  dat  town,  kaze  I 
done  been  dar  an'  see  der  carryin's  on." 

"I  believe  I  '11  try  it  when  I  go  back  home,*' 
said  the  little  lad. 

" Co'se  you  will,"  Uncle  Remus  assented,  "an* 
you  '11  be  glad  fer  ter  git  in  jail  atter  bein'  in  a 
parlor  what  de  sun  ain't  shine  in  sence  de  war. 
You  come  down  here  fer  ter  git  strong  an'  well, 
an'  here  you  is  in  de  dampest  room  in  de  house. 
You  '11  git  well  —  oh,  yes !  I  see  you  well  right 
now,  speshually  atter  you  done  had  de  croup  an* 
de  pneumony,  an'  de  browncreeturs." 

"There  's  mother,"  said  the  little  boy  under  his 
breath. 

"I  wish  'twuz  yo'  daddy!"  Uncle  Remus  re- 
plied. "  I  'd  gi'  'im  a  piece  er  my  min'  ez  long  ez  a 
Waggin  tongue." 

But  the  young  mother  never  heard  this  remark. 


WHY  CRICKET  HAS  ELBOWS  ON  HIS  LEGS  «I 
She  had  felt  she  was  doing  wrong  when  she  ban- 
ished the  child  to  the  parlor  for  a  trivial  fault,  and 
now  she  made  haste  to  undo  it.  She  ran  into  the 
house  and  released  the  little  boy,  and  told  him  to 
run  to  play.  "Thank  you,  mother,"  he  said  cour- 
teously, and  then  when  he  disappeared,  what 
should  the  young  mother  do  but  cry  ? 

The  child,  however,  was  very  far  from  crying. 
He  ran  around  to  the  front  yard  just  in  time  to 
meet  Uncle  Remus  as  he  came  out.  He  seized  the 
old  darky's  hand  and  went  skipping  along  by  his 
side.  "You  put  me  in  min'  er  ol'  Grandaddy 
Cricket  'bout  de  time  he  had  his  big  kickin' 
ma&ch.  He  sho  wuz  lively." 

"That  was  just  what  I  was  going  to  ask  you 
about,"  said  the  child  enthusiastically,  for  his  in- 
stinct told  him  that  Uncle  Remus's  remarks 
about  Grandaddy  Cricket  were  intended  to  lead 
up  to  a  story.  When  they  had  both  climbed  into 
the  wagon,  and  were  well  on  their  way  to  the 
Wood  Lot,  where  the  surplus  corn  had  been  tem- 
porarily stored,  the  old  man,  after  some  prelim- 
inaries, such  as  looking  in  his  hat  to  see  if  he  had 


£3  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

lost  his  hankcher,  as  he  called  it,  and  inquiring  ol 
the  horses  if  they  knew  where  they  were  going 
and  what  they  were  going  after,  suddenly  turned 
to  the  child  with  a  question :  "  Ain't  I  hear  you  ax 
me  'bout  sump'n  n'er,  honey  ?  I  'm  gittin'  so  ol* 
an*  wobbly  dat  it  seem  like  I  'm  deaf,  yit  ef  any- 
body wuz  ter  call  me  ter  dinner,  I  speck  I  could 
hear  um  a  mile  off  ef  dey  so  much  ez  whispered  it." 

"Yes,"  the  child  replied.  "It  was  about  old 
Grandaddy  Cricket.  I  thought  maybe  you  knew 
something  about  him." 

"Who?  Me,  Honey?  Why,  my  great-gran- 
daddy's  great-grandaddy  live  nex'  door  ter  whar 
oi'  Grandaddy  Cricket  live  at.  Folks  is  lot's  littler 
now  dan  what  dey  wuz  in  dem  days,  an'  likewize 
de  creeturs,  an'  de  creepin*  an'  crawlin'  things. 
My  grandaddy  say  dat  his  great-grandaddy 
would  make  two  men  like  him,  an'  my  grandaddy 
wuz  a  monst'us  big  man,  dey  ain't  no  two  ways 
'bout  dat.  It  seems  like  dat  folks  is  swunk  up„ 
My  grandaddy's  great-grandaddy  say  it 's  kaze 
dey  done  quit  eatin'  raw  meat. 

"I  can't  tell  you  'bout  dat  myself,  but  my 


WHY  CRICKET  HAS  ELBOWS  ON  HIS  LEGS  29 
great-grandaddy's  great-great-grand  addy  could 
eat  a  whole  steer  in  two  days,  horn  an*  huff,  an' 
dem  what  toF  me  ain't  make  no  brags  'bout  it; 
dey  done  like  dey  'd  seen  it  happen  nine  times  a 
ruont'  off  an'  on  fer  forty  year  er  mo'.  Well,  den,'* 
Uncle  Remus  went  on,  looking  at  the  little  chap 
to  see  if  he  was  swallowing  the  story  with  a  good 
digestion  —  "well,  den,  dat  bein'  de  case,  it 
stan's  ter  reason  dat  de  creeturs  an'  de  crawlin* 
an'  creepin'  things  wuz  lots  bigger  dan  what  dey 
is  now.  Dey  had  bigger  houses,  ef  dey  had  any 
'tall,  an'  ef  dey  had  bigger  houses  dey  must  'a' 
had  bigger  chimbleys. 

"  So  den,  all  dat  bein'  settle',  I  'm  gwine  tell  you 
'bout  ol'  Grandaddy  Cricket.  He  must  'a'  been  a 
grandaddy  long  'bout  de  time  dat  my  great- 
grandaddy's  great-grand  addy  wuz  workin'  for 
his  great-grandaddy.  Howsomever  dat  mought 
be,  ol'  Grandaddy  Cricket  wuz  on  han',  an'  fum 
all  I  hear  he  wuz  bigger  dan  a  middlin'-size  goat„ 
All  endurin'  er  de  hot  weather,  he  'd  stay  out  in 
de  woods  wid  his  fife  an'  his  riddle,  an'  I  speck  he 
had  great  times.  One  day  he  'd  fiddle  fer  de  fishes 


30  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

fer  ter  dance,  an*  de  nex*  he  'd  Tarn  de  young 
birds  how  ter  whistle  wid  his  fife,  Day  in  an'  day 
out  he  frolicked  an*  had  his  fun,  but  bimeby  de 
weather  'gun  ter  git  cool  an'  de  days  'gun  ter  git 
shorter,  an'  ol'  Grandaddy  Cricket  hatter  keep 
his  han's  in  his  pockets  fum  soon  in  de  mornin' 
twel  ten  o'clock.  An*  'long  'bout  de  time  when  de 
sun  start  down  hill,  he  'd  hatter  put  his  fiddle  un- 
der his  arm  an'  his  fife  in  his  side-pocket. 

"Dis  wuz  bad  nuff,  but  wuss  come.  It  got  so 
col'  dat  Grandaddy  Cricket  can't  skacely  walk 
twel  de  sun  wuz  shinin'  right  over  'im.  Mo'  dan 
dat,  he  'gun  ter  git  hongry  and  stay  hongry.  Ef 
yu  'd  "a*  seed  'im  in  de  hot  weather,  fiddlin'  an* 
dancin',  an'  fifin*  an'  prancin',  you  'd  'a'  thunk 
dat  he  had  a  stack  er  vittles  put  by  ez  big  ez  de 
barn  back  yander;  but  bimeby  it  got  so  cold  dat 
he  know  sump'n  got  ter  be  done.  He  know  sum- 
p'n  got  ter  be  done,  but  how  er  when  he  could  n't 
5  a'  tol'  you  ef  it  had  'a'  been  de  las'  ac\  He  went 
'long,  creepin'  an*  crawlin*  fum  post  ter  pillar,  an^ 
he  'membered  de  days  when  he  went  wid  a  hop; 
skip  an'  a  jump,  but  he  wuz  too  col'  fer  ter  cry. 


WHY  CRICKET  HAS  ELBOWS  ON  HIS  LEGS  31 
*'  He  crope  along,  tryin'  ter  keep  on  de  sunny 
side  er  de  worl',  twel  bimeby,  one  day  lie  seed 
smoke  a-risin'  way  off  yander,  an'  he  know'd 
mighty  well  dat  whar  der  's  smoke  dey  bleeze  ter 
be  fire.  He  crope  an*  he  crawled,  an'  bimeby  he 
come  close  miff  ter  de  smoke  f  er  ter  see  dat  it  wuz 
comin'  out'n  a  chimbley  dat  'd  been  built  on  one 
*een  uv  a  house,  'Twant  like  de  houses  what  you 
see  up  yander  in  iUlanty,  kaze  'twuz  made  out  er 
logs,  an'  de  chink  'twix'  de  logs  wuz  stopped  up 
wid  red  clay.  De  chimbley  wuz  made  out'n  sticks 
an'  stones  an'  mud. 

"Grandaddy  Cricket  wuz  forty-lev'm  times 
bigger  dan  what  his  fambly  is  deze  days,  but  he 
wan't  so  big  dat  he  could  n't  crawl  un'  de  house* 
kase  'twuz  propped  up  on  pillars.  So  un'  de  house 
he  went  an'  scrouge  close  ter  de  chimbley  fer  ter 
see  ef  he  can't  git  some  er  de  warmf,  but,  bless 
you,  it  'uz  stone  col'.  Ef  it  had  'a'  b*><m  likede 
chimbleys  is  deze  days,  ol'  Grandaddy  Cricket 
would  'a'  friz  stiff,  but  'twuz  plain,  eve'yday  mud 
plastered  on  some  sticks  laid  crossways.  'Twuz 
hard  fer  ol'  Grandaddy  Cricket  fer  ter  wort"  his 


32  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

way  inter  de  ckimbley,  but  harder  fer  ter  stay  out 
n  de  coP  - —  so  he  sot  in  ter  work.  He  gnyawed 
m'  he  sawed,  he  scratched  an*  he  clawed,  he 
pushed  an*  he  gouged,  an'  he  shoved  an'  he 
*crouged,  twel,  bhneby,  he  got  whar  he  could  feel 
some  er  de  warmf  er  de  fire,  an'  'twant  long'  fo' 
he  wuz  feelin'  fine.  He  snickered  ter  hisse'f  when 
he  hear  de  win'  whistlin'  roun'  de  cornders,  an' 
blowin*  des  like  it  come  right  fresh  fum  de  place 
whar  de  ice-bugs  five  at." 

The  little  boy  laughed  and  placed  his  hand  ca- 
ressingly on  Uncle  Remus's  knee,  "You  mean 
*ce-bergs,  Uncle  Remus,"  he  said. 

"Nigh  ez  I  kin  'member,"  replied  the  old 
darky,  with  affected  dignity,  "ice-bugs  is  what  I 
meant.  I  tell  you  dat  p'intedly.,  What  I  know 
bout  ice-berrigs?" 

The  little  lad  eyed  the  old  darkey  curiously, 
but  said  nothing  more  for  some  time.  Uncle  Re- 
mus regarded  him  from  the  corner  of  his  eye  and 
smiled,  for  this  was  a  little  chap  whose  ways  he 
was  yet  to  understand.  Finally,  he  took  up  the 
thread  of  his  story,  "  It 's  des  like  I  tell  you* 


WHY  CRICKET  HAS  ELBOWS  ON  HIS  LEGS  39 
honey :  he  ain't  no  sooner  git  thawed  out  dan  he 
'gun  ter  feel  good.  Dey  wuz  some  cracks  an* 
crannies  in  de  h'ath  er  de  fireplace,  an'  when  de 
chillun  eat  der  mush  an'  milk,  some  er  de  crum'a 
*ud  sift  thoo  de  h'ath.  OF  Grandaddy  Cricket 
smelt  um,  an'  felt  um,  an*  helt  urn',  an'  atter 
dat  you  could  n't  make  'im  b'lieve  dat  he  wan't 
in  hog-heav'm. 

**  De  place  whar  he  wuz  at  wa'  n't  roomy  nuif 
fer  fiddlin',  but  he  tuck  out  his  fife  an'  'gun  ter 
play  on  it,  an'  ev'y  time  he  hear  a  noise  he  'd  cut 
de  chune  short.  He  'd  blow  a  little  an'  den  break 
off,  but  take  de  day  ez  it  come,  he  put  in  a  right 
smart  lot  er  fifin'.  When  night  come,  an'  ev'y- 
thing  wuz  dark  down  dar  whar  he  wuz  at,  he  des 
turned  hisse'f  loose.  De  chillun  in  de  house,  dey 
des  lis'en  an'  laugh,  but  dey  daddy  shake  his 
head  an'  look  sour.  Dey  wan't  no  crickets  in  de 
country  whar  he  come  fum,  an'  he  wan't  usen  ter 
um.  But  de  mammy  er  de  chillun  ain't  pay  no 
'tention  ter  de  fifin';  she  des  went  on  'bout  her 
business  like  dey  ain't  no  cricket  in  de  roun* 
tforl\  Or  Grandaddy  Cricket  he  fifed  an'  fifed 


54  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

des  like  he  wuz  doin'  it  fer  pay.  He  played  de  chil- 
lun  off  ter  bed  an'  played  um  ter  sleep;  he  played 
twel  de  ol'  man  got  ter  nid-nid-noddin'  by  de  fire; 
he  played  twel  dey  all  went  ter  bed  'cep'  de  mam- 
my, an'  he  played  whiles  she  sot  by  de  h'ath,  an' 
dremp  'bout  de  times  when  she  wuz  a  gal  —  de 
ol*  times  dat  make  de  gran'-chillun  feel  so  funny 
when  dey  hear  tell  'bout  um. 

"  Night  atter  night  de  fifin'  went  on,  an'  bime* 
by  de  man  'gun  ter  git  tired.  De  'oman,  she  say 
dat  de  crickets  brung  good  luck,  but  de  man,  he 
say  he  'd  druther  have  mo'  luck  an'  less  fifin'.  So 
he  holler  down  thoo  de  crack  in  de  h'ath,  an'  tell 
ol'  Grandaddy  Cricket  fer  ter  hush  his  fuss  er 
change  his  chune.  But  de  fifin'  went  on.  De  man 
holler  down  an*  say  dat  ef  de  fifin*  don't  stop,  he 
gwine  ter  pour  b'ilin'  water  on  de  fifer,  Ol'  Gran 
daddy  Cricket  holler  back*. 

"  *  Hot  water  will  turn  me  brown, 

An'  den  I  "11  kick  yd9  chimbley  down* 

"De  man,  he  grin,  he  did,  an'  den  he  put  de 
kittle  on  de  fire  an'  kep'  it  dar  twel  de  water  'guo 


So  he  holler  down  tlwo  de  vrack 


WHY  CRICKET  HAS  ELBOWS  ON  HIS  LEGS         3C 

ter  b'ile,  an'  den,  whiles  de  fifin'  wuz  at  de  loud- 
est, he  tuck  de  kittle  an'  tilted  it  so  de  scaldin* 
water  will  run  down  thoo  de  cracks,  an'  den  de 
fust  thing  he  know'd  he  ain't  know  nothin',  kaze 
de  water  weakened  de  clay  an'  de  h'ath  fell  in  an' 
oP  Grandaddy  Cricket  sot  in  ter  kickin'  an'  de 
chimbley  come  down,  it  did,  an'  bury  de  man,  an' 
when  dey  got  'im  out,  he  wuz  one-eyed  an'  splay- 
footed. 

"De  'oman  an'  de  chillun  ain't  skacely  know 
'im.  Dey  hatter  ax  'im  his  name,  an'  whar  he 
come  f um,  an'  how  oP  he  wuz ;  an'  atter  he  satchi- 
fied  um  dat  he  wuz  de  same  man  what  been 
livin'  dar  all  de  time,  de  'oman  say,  'Ain't  I  tell 
you  dat  crickets  fetch  good  luck  ? '  An'  de  man,  he 
'low,  'Does  you  call  dis  good  luck?'" 

"  What  became  of  the  cricket  ?  "  asked  the  little 
boy,  after  a  long  pause,  during  which  Uncle  Re- 
mus appeared  to  be  thinking  about  other  things. 

"Oh!"  exclaimed  the  old  darky.  "Dat 's  so!  I 
ain't  tol'  you,  is  I  ?  Well,  oP  Grandaddy  Cricket 
kicked  so  hard,  an'  kicked  so  high,  dat  he  on- 
j'inted  bofe  his  legs,  an*  when  he  crawled  out  fum 


36  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

de  chimbley,  his  elbows  wuz  whar  his  knees 
oughter  be  at." 

"  But  it  was  cold  weather,"  suggested  the  little 
boy.  "  Where  did  he  go  when  he  kicked  the  chim- 
ney down?" 

Uncle  Remus  smiled  as  he  took  another  chew 
of  tobacco.  "Dey  wa'  n't  but  one  thing  he  could 
do,"  he  replied;  "he  went  on  ter  nex'  house  an' 
got  in  de  chimbley  an'  he  been  livin'  in  chimbleys 
off  an'  on  down  ter  dis  day  an'  time." 


'  Does  you  call  dis  good  luck  ? ' 


HOW   WILEY   WOLF   RODE    IN   THE    BAG 

UNCLE  REMUS  soon  had  the  wagon 
loaded  with  corn,  and  he  and  the  little 
boy  started  back  home.  The  planta- 
tion road  was  not  a  good  one  to  begin  v/ith,  and 
the  spring  rains  had  not  improved  it.  Conse- 
quently there  were  times  when  Uncle  Remus 
deemed  it  prudent  to  get  out  of  the  wagon  and 
walk.  The  horses  were  fat  and  strong,  to  be 
sure,  but  some  of  the  small  hills  were  very  steep, 
so  much  so  that  the  old  darky  had  to  guide  the 
team  first  to  the  right  and  then  to  the  left  in 
order  to  overcome  the  sheer  grade.  In  other 
words,  he  had  to  see-saw  as  he  explained  to  the 
little  boy.  "Drive  um  straight  up,  an'  dey  fall 
back,"  he  explained,  "but  on  de  see-saw  dey 
fergits  dat  deyer  gwine  uphill." 

All  this  was  Dutch  to  the  little  boy,  who  knew 

37 


88  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

nothing  about  driving  horses,  but  he  had  been  . 
well  trained,  and  so  he  said,  "Yes,  that  is  so." 
The  last  time  that  Uncle  Remus  had  to  vacate 
the  driver's  seat  in  order  to  relieve  the  horses  of 
his  weight,  he  stumbled  into  a  ditch  that  had 
been  dug  on  the  side  of  the  road  to  prevent  the 
rains  from  washing  it  into  gullies.  He  recovered 
himself  immediately,  but  not  before  he  had 
startled  a  little  rabbit,  which  ran  on  ahead  of  the 
horses  for  a  considerable  distance.  Instinct  came 
to  its  aid  after  a  while,  and  it  darted  into  the  un- 
derbrush which  grew  profusely  on  both  sides  of 
the  road. 

Before  the  little  rabbit  disappeared,  however, 
Uncle  Remus  had  time  to  give  utterance  to  a 
hunting  halloo  that  aroused  the  echoes  all  around, 
and  made  the  little  boy  jump,  for  he  was  not 
used  to  this  sort  of  thing.  "  I  declar'  ter  gracious 
ef  it  don't  put  me  in  min'  er  ol'  times  —  de  times 
dey  tell  'bout  in  de  tales  dat  been  handed  down. 
Ef  dat  little  rab  had  'a'  been  five  times  ez  big  ez 
he  is,  an'  twice  ez  young,  I  'd  'a'  thunk  we  'd  done 
got  back  ter  de  days  when  my  great-grandaddy's 


HOW  WILEY  WOLF  RODE  IN  THE  BAG  3ff 

at-grandaddy  lived.  You  may  n't  b'lieve  me, 
but  ef  you  '11  count  fum  de  time  when  my  great- 
grandaddy's  great-grandaddy  wuz  born'd  down 
ter  dis  minnit,  you  '11  fin'  dat  youer  lookin'  back 
on  many  a  long  year,  an'  a  mighty  heap  er 
Chris'mus-come-an'-gone. 

"  You  may  think  dat  deze  times  is  de  bes* ;  well, 
den,  you  kin  have  'urn  ef  you  '11  des  gi'  me  de  ol* 
times  when  de  nights  wuz  long  an'  de  days  short, 
wid  plenty  er  wood  on  de  fire,  an'  taters  an'  ash- 
cake  in  de  embers.  Han'  um  here!"  Uncle  Re- 
mus held  out  his  hand  as  if  he  thought  the  little 
chap  had  the  old  times  and  the  ashcakes  and  the 
roasted  potatoes  in  his  pocket.  "Den  you  ain't 
got  um, "  he  went  on,  as  the  child  drew  away  and 
pretended  to  hold  his  pocket  tight;  "you  ain't  got 
um,  an'  you  can't  git  um.  I  done  been  had  um, 
but  I  got  ter  nippy-nappin'  one  night,  an'  some 
un  come  'long  an'  tuck  um  —  some  nigger  man, 
I  speck,  kaze  dey  wuz  a  big  fat  'possum  mixed 
up  wid  um,  an'  a  heap  er  yuther  things  liable  fer 
ter  make  a  nigger's  mouf  water.  Yasser !  dey  tuck 
um  right  away  fum  me,  an'  I  ain't  seed  um  sencej 


40  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

an'  maybe  ef  I  wuz  ter  see  um  I  would  n't  know 
urn." 

"Were  the  rabbits  very  large  in  old  times?'* 
inquired  the  little  boy. 

"Dey  mought  er  been  runts  in  de  fambly,** 
replied  Uncle  Remus  cautiously,  "but  fum  all  I 
kin  hear  fum  dem  what  know'd,  ol'  Brer  Rabbit 
wuz  a  sight  bigger  dan  any  er  de  rabbits  you  see 
deze  days." 

Uncle  Remus  paused  to  give  the  little  boy  an 
opportunity  to  make  some  comment,  or  ask  such 
questions  as  occurred  to  him,  as  the  other  little 
boy  had  been  so  ready  to  do ;  but  he  said  nothing. 
It  seemed  that  his  curiosity  had  been  satisfied, 
and  yet  he  wanted  very  much  to  hear  a  story  such 
as  Uncle  Remus  had  been  in  the  habit  of  telling 
his  father  when  he  was  the  little  boy.  But  he  had 
been  so  rigidly  trained  to  silence  in  the  presence 
of  his  eiders  that  he  hesitated  about  making  his 
desires  known. 

The  old  negro,  however,  was  so  accustomed 
to  anticipating  the  wants  of  children,  especially 
those  in  whom  he  took  an  interest,  that  he  knew 


HOW  WILEY  WOLF  RODE  IN  THE  BAG  41 

perfectly  well  what  the  little  boy  wanted.  The 
child's  attitude  was  expectant,  even  if  his  lips  re- 
fused to  give  form  to  his  thoughts.  This  sort  of 
thing  —  the  old  negro  could  give  it  no  name  -— 
was  so  new  to  Uncle  Remus  that  he  chuckled, 
and  presently  the  chuckle  developed  into  a 
hearty  laugh. 

The  little  boy  regarded  him  with  surprise. 
"Are  you  laughing  at  me,  Uncle  Remus  ?"  he  in- 
quired, after  some  hesitation. 

"  Why,  honey,  what  put  dat  idee  in  yo'  head  ? 
What  I  gwineter  laugh  at  you  f er  ?  Ef  you  wuz  a 
little  bigger,  I  might  laugh  at  you,  des  ter  see 
how  you  'd  take  it.  Ef  you  want  me  ter  laugh  at 
you,  you  '11  hatter  do  some  growin'. " 

"  Grandmother  says  I  'm  a  big  boy, "  said  the 
child. 

"Fer  yo'  age  an'  size,  youer  right  smart  chunk 
uv  a  boy,"  assented  Uncle  Remus,  "but  you  '11 
hatter  be  lots  bigger  dan  what  you  is  'fo'  I  laugh 
at  you.  No,  suh;  I  wuz  gigglin'  at  de  way  Brer 
Rabbit  got  away  wid  ol'  Brer  Wolf  endurin'  er  de 
time  when  der  chillun  played  tergedder;  an'  daf 


42  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

little  rabbit  dat  run  'cross  de  road  put  me  in  min' 
un  it.  I  bet  ef  I  'd  'a'  been  dar,  I  'd  'a'  done  mo' 
dan  laugh  —  I  'd  'a'  holler' d.  Yasser,  dey  ain't 
no  two  ways  'bout  it  —  I  'd  'a'  des  flung  back  my 
head  an'  'a'  fetched  a  whoop  dat  you  could  'a' 
hearn  fum  here  ter  de  big  house.  Dat 's  what  I  'd 
Vdone." 

"It  must  have  been  very  funny,  then,"  re- 
marked the  little  boy. 

Uncle  Remus  looked  at  the  child  with  a  seri- 
ous face.  Surely  something  must  be  wrong  with 
him.  And  yet  he  was  still  expectant  —  expectant 
and  patient.  The  old  negro  had  never  had  dealings 
with  such  a  youngster  as  this,  and  he  was  not  in 
the  habit  of  telling  stories  "des  dry  so,"  as  he 
put  it;  so  he  went  at  it  in  a  new,  but  still  a  charac- 
teristic, way.  "  Ef  yo'  pa  had  'a'  been  settin'  whar 
you  settin'  he  would  n't  gi'  me  no  peace  twel  I  tol' 
'im  zackly  what  I  wuz  laughin'  'bout;  an'  he  'd  'a' 
pestered  me  wid  his  inquirements  twel  he  foun'out 
all  about  it.  Does  he  pester  you  dat  away,  honey  ? 
Kaze  ef  he  does,  I  '11  tell  you  de  way  ter  fetch  'im 
up  wid  a  roun'  turn;  des  tell  'im  you  gwineter  teP 


HWW  WILEY  WOLF  RODE  IN  THE  BAG  48 

his  mammy  on  him,  an'  I  bet  you  he  won't  pester 
you  much  atter  dat. " 

This  tickled  the  little  boy  very  much.  The  idea 
of  asking  his  grandmother  to  make  his  father  stop 
bothering  him  was  so  new  and  so  ridiculous  that 
he  laughed  unrestrainedly. 

"  De  minnit  dat  little  rab  jumped  out  'n  de 
bushes,"  Uncle  Remus  went  on,  apparently  pay- 
ing no  attention  to  the  child's  laughter,  "it  put 
me  in  min'  er  de  time  when  oP  Brer  Rabbit  had  a 
lot  er  chillun  an'  gran'chillun  pirootin'  roun'  de 
neighborhoods  whar  he  live  at.  Dey  mought  not  'a* 
been  any  gran'chillun  in  de  bunch,  but  dey  wuz 
plenty  er  chillun,  bofe  young  an'  ol\ 

"Brer  Rabbit  'ud  move  sometimes  des  like  de 
folks  does  deze  days,  speslmally  up  dar  in  'Lant~ 
matantarum,  whar  you  come  fum."  The  little 
bey  smiled  at  this  new  name  for  Atlanta,  and 
snuggled  a  little  closer  to  Uncle  Remus,  for  the 
old  man  had,  with  this  one  word,  entered  the 
fields  that  belong  to  childhood.  "  He  'd  move,  but 
mos'  allers  he  'd  take  a  notion  fer  ter  come  back 
ter  his  ol'  home.  Sometimes  he  hatter  move,  de 


U  TOLL  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

yuther  creeturs  pursued  atter  'im  so  close,  but 
dey  allers  got  de  ragged  en'  er  de  pursuin',  an' 
dey  wuz  times  when  dey  'd  be  right  neighborly 
wid  'im. 

"'Twuz  'bout  de  time  dat  Brer  Wolf  had 
kinder  made  up  his  min'  dat  he  can't  outdo  Brer 
Rabbit,  no  way  he  kin  fix  it,  an'  he  say  ter  hisse'f 
dat  he  better  let  'im  'lone  twel  he  kin  git  'im  in  a 
corner  whar  he  can't  git  out.  So  Brer  Wolf,  he 
live  wid  his  f  ambly  on  one  side  de  road,  an'  Brer 
Rabbit  live  wid  his  fambly  on  de  yuther  side,  not 
close  nuff  fer  ter  quoil  'bout  de  fence  line,  an'  yit 
close  nufT  fer  der  youngest  chillun  ter  play  ter- 
gedder  whiles  de  oP  folks  wuz  payin'  der  Sunday 
calls. 

"It  went  on  an'  went  on  dis  way  twel  it  look 
like  Brer  Rabbit  done  fergit  how  ter  play  tricks 
on  his  neighbors  an'  Brer  Wolf  done  disremem- 
ber'd  dat  he  yever  is  try  fer  ter  ketch  Brer  Rabbit 
fer  meat  fer  his  fambly.  One  Sunday  in  speshual, 
dey  wuz  mighty  frien'ly.  It  wuz  Brer  Rabbit's 
time  fer  ter  call  on  Brer  Wolf ,  an'  bof e  un  urn  wuz 
settin'  up  in  de  porch  des  ez  natchal  ez  life.  Brer 


■"*■■*:  at  ■  ' 

1  Bey  sot  dar    .     .     .     tulkirt  "bout  oV  times  " 


HOW  WILEY  WOLF  RODE  IN  THE  BAG  4S 

Rabbit  wuz  chawin'  his  terbacker  an'  spittin" 
over  de  railin'  an'  Brer  Wolf  wuz  grinnin'  'bout 
ol'  times,  an'  pickin'  his  toofies,  which  dey  look 
mighty  white  an'  sharp.  Dey  wuz  settin'  up  dar? 
dey  wuz,  des  ez  thick  ez  fleas  on  a  dog's  back,  an9 
iookin'  like  butter  won't  melt  in  der  mouf. 

"An'  whiles  dey  wuz  settin'  dar,  little  Wiley 
Wolf  an'  Riley  Rabbit  wuz  playin'  in  de  yard  des 
like  chiliun  will.  Dey  run  an'  dey  romped,  dey 
frisk  an'  dey  frolic,  dey  jump  an'  dey  hump,  dey 
hide,  an'  dey  slide,  an'  it  look  like  dey  had  mo3 
fun  dan  a  mule  kin  pull  in  a  waggin.  Little  Wiley 
Wolf,  he  'd  run  atter  Riley  Rabbit,  an'  den  Riley 
Rabbit  'ud  run  atter  Wiley  Wolf,  an*  here  dey 
had  it  up  an'  down  an'  roun'  an'  roun',  twel  it 
look  like  dey  'd  run  deyse'f  ter  death.  'Bout  de 
time  you  'd  think  dey  bleeze  ter  drap,  one  un  um 
would  holler  out,  'King's  Excuse!'  an'  in  dem 
days,  when  you  say  dat,  nobody  can't  ketch  you, 
it  ain't  make  no  diffunce  who,  kaze  ef  dey  dast 
ter  lay  han's  on  you  atter  you  say  dat,  dey  could 
be  tuck  ter  de  place  whar  dey  done  der  judgin',  an" 
ef  dey  wa'  n't  mighty  sharp  dey  'd  git  put  in  jail, 


46  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

"Now,  whiles  Wiley  Wolf  an'  Riley  Rabbit 
wuz  harm'  der  fun,  der  daddies  wuz  bleeze  ter 
hear  de  racket  what  dey  make,  an'  see  de  dus' 
dey  raise.  Dey  squealed  an'  dey  squalled,  an  , 
ripped  aroun'  twel  you  'd  a  thunk  dey  wuz  a  good 
size  whirlywin'  blowin'  in  de  yard.  Brer  Rabbit 
ehaw'd  his  terbacker  right  slow  an'  shot  one  eye> 
an*  ol'  Brer  Wolf  lick  his  chops  an'  grin.  Brer 
Rabbit  'low,  'De  youngsters  is  gittin'  mighty 
f  amilious,'  an'  oi'  Brer  Wolf  say, '  Dey  is  indeedy, 
an'  I  hope  dey  '11  keep  it  up.  You  know  how  we 
useter  be,  Brer  Rabbit;  we  wuz  constant  a-playin' 
tricks  on  one  an'er,  an'  it  lookt  like  we  wuz  allers 
at  outs.  I  hope  de  young  uns  '11  have  better 
manners ! ' 

"Dey  sot  dar,  dey  did,  talkin'  'bout  ol'  times& 
twel  de  sun  got  low,  an'  de  visitin'  had  ter  be  cut 
short.  Brer  Rabbit  say  dat  he  had  ter  cut  some 
kindlin'  so  his  ol'  'oman  kin  git  supper,  an'  Brer 
Wolf  'low  dat  he  allers  cut  his  kindlin'  on  Sat'day 
so  he  kin  have  all  Sunday  ter  hisse'f,  an'  smoke 
nis  pipe  in  peace.  He  went  a  piece  er  de  way  wid 
Brer  Rabbit,  an'  Wiley  Wolf,  he  come,  too,  an' 


HOW  WILEY  WOLF  RODE  IN  THE  BAG  47 

him  an'  Riley  Rabbit  had  all  sorts  uv  a  time  atter 
dey  got  in  de  big  road.  Dey  wuz  bushes  on  bofe 
sides,  an'  dey  kep'  up  der  game  er  hide  an'  seek 
des  ez  fur  ez  Brer  Wolf  went,  but  bimeby,  he  say 
he  gone  fur  nuff,  an'  he  say  he  hope  Brer  Rabbit 
'11  come  ag'in  right  soon,  an'  let  Riley  come  an* 
play  wid  Wiley  endurin'  er  de  week. 

"Not  ter  be  outdone,  Brer  Rabbit  invite  Brer 
Wolf  fer  ter  come  an'  see  him,  an'  iiKewise  ter  let 
Wiley  come  an'  play  wid  Riley. '  Dey  ain't  nothin' 
but  chillun,'  sezee, '  'an'  look  like  dey  done  tuck  a 
likin'  ter  one  an'er. ' 

"On  de  way  back  home,  Brer  Wolf  make  a 
mighty  strong  talk  ter  Wiley,  He  say,  'It's  mo' 
dan  likely  dat  de  little  Rab  will  come  ter  play  wid 
you  some  day  when  dey  ain't  nobody  here,  an* 
when  he  do,  I  want  you  ter  play  de  game  er  ridin' 
tin  de  bag.'  Wiley  Wolf  say  he  ain't  never  hear 
tell  er  dat  game,  an'  ol'  Brer  Wolf  say  it 's  easy 
ez  fallin'  off  a  log.  'You  git  in  de  bag,'  sez« 
ee/an'  let  'im  haul  you  roun'  de  yard,  an'  den 
he  '11  git  in  de  bag  fer  you  ter  haul  him  'roun', 
What  you  wanter  do  is  ter  git  'im  use  ter  de 


48  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

bag;  you  hear  dat,  don't  you?  Git  'ini  use  ter 
de  bag.' 

"  So  when  little  Riley  come,  de  two  un  una  had 
a  great  time  er  ridin'  in  de  bag;  'twuz  des  like 
ridin'  in  a  waggin,  'ceppin'  dat  Riley  Rabbit  look 
like  he  ain't  got  no  mo'  sense  dan  ter  haul  little 
Wiley  Wolf  over  de  roughest  groun'  he  kin  fin', 
an'  when  Wiley  holler'd  dat  he  hurt  'im,  Riley  'ud 
say  he  won't  do  it  no  mo',  but  de  nex'  chance  he 
got,  he  'd  do  it  ag'in. 

"  Well,  dey  had  all  sorts  uv  a  time,  an'  when 
Riley  Rabbit  went  home,  he  up  an'  tol'  um  all 
what  dey  'd  been  a-playin'.  Brer  Rabbit  ain't  say 
nothin' ;  lie  des  sot  dar,  he  did,  an'  chaw  his  ter* 
backer,  an'  shot  one  eye.  An'  when  ol'  Brer  Wolf 
come  home  dat  night,  Wiley  tol'  'im  'bout  de 
good  time  dey  'd  had.  Brer  Wolf  grin,  he  did,  an' 
lick  his  chops.  '  He  say,'  sezee,  '  dey  's  two  parts 
ter  dat  game.  When  you  git  tired  er  ridin'  in  de 
bag,  you  tie  de  bag.'  He  went  on,  he  did,  an'  tol' 
Wiley  dat  what  he  want  'im  ter  do  is  ter  play 
ridin'  in  de  bag  twel  bofe  got  tired,  an'  den  play 
tyin'  de  bag,  an'  at  de  las'  he  wuz  ter  tie  de  bag  so 


w  *  ix:*  ' 


Git  'irn  use  ter  de  bag  I ' n 


HOW  W1UEY  WOLF  RODE  IN  THE  BAG  4S 

little  Riley  Rabbit  can't  git  out,  an'  den  ter  go  ter 
bed  an'  kiver  up  his  head. 

"  So  said,  so  done.  Little  Riley  Rabbit  come  an* 
played  ridin'  in  de  bag,  an'  den  when  dey  got 
tired,  dey  played  tyin'  de  bag.  'Twuz  mighty 
funny  fer  ter  tie  one  an'er  in  de  bag,  an'  not 
know  ef  twuz  gwineter  be  ontied.  I  dunner  what 
would  'a'  happen  ter  little  Riley  Rab  ef  ol'  Rrer 
Rabbit  ain't  come  along  wid  a  big  load  er  'spic- 
ions.  He  call  de  little  Rabbit  ter  de  fence.  He  talk 
loud  an'  he  say  dat  he  want  'im  fer  ter  fetch  a 
turn  er  kindlin'  when  he  start  home,  an'  den  he 
say  ter  Riley,  'Be  tied  in  de  bag  once  mo',  an' 
den  when  Wiley  gits  in  tie  'im  in  dar  hard  an 
fas'.  Wet  de  string  in  yo'  mouf,  an'  pull  it  des  ez 
tight  ez  you  kin.  Den  you  come  on  home;  yo£ 
mammy  want  you.' 

"  De  las '  time  Wiley  Wolf  got  in  de  bag,  lit- 
tle Riley  tied  it  so  tight  dat  he  could  n't  'a' 
got  it  loose  ef  he  'd  'a'  tried.  He  tied  it  tight, 
he  did,  an'  den  he  'low,  '  I  got  ter  go  home  fer 
ter  git  some  kindlin',  an'  when  I  do  dat,  I  '11 
come  back  an'  play  twel  supper-time.'    But  ei 


50  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

he  yever  is  went  back  dar,  I  ain't  never  hear 
talk  un  it. " 

Uncle  Remus  closed  his  eyes  apparently,  but 
not  so  tight  that  he  couid  n't  watch  the  little  boy. 
The  youngster  had  been  listening  to  the  story  too 
intently  to  ask  questions,  and  now  he  sat  silent 
waiting  for  Uncle  Remus  to  finish.  He  waited  and 
waited  until  he  grew  impatient,  and  then  he 
raised  his  head.  He  still  waited  a  few  moments 
longer,  but  Uncle  Remus  to  all  appearances  was 
nodding.  "Uncle  Remus,"  he  cried,  "what  be- 
came of  Wiley  Wolf  ? " 

The  old  negro  pretended  to  wake  with  a  start. 
"Ain't  I  hear  some  un  talkin'?"  He  looked  all 
around,  and  then  his  eye  fell  on  the  little  boy. 
"Dar  you  is!"  he  exclaimed  with  a  laugh.  "I 
done  been  ter  sleep  an'  drempt  dat  I  wuz  eatin' 
a  slishe  er  tater  custard  ez  big  ez  de  waggin 
body."  The  little  boy  repeated  his  question, 
whereupon  Uncle  Remus  held  up  his  hands  with 
a  gesture  of  astonishment.  "Ain't  I  tol'  you  dat? 
Den  I  mus'  be  gittin'  ol'  an'  wobbly.  De  fus" 
thing  when  I  git  ter  de  house  I  'm  gwineter  be 


'  Den  you  come  on  home  ;  yo'  mammy  want  you  ' ; 


HOW  WILEY  WOLF  RODE  IN  THE  BAG  0 

weighed  fer  ter  see  how  oV  I  is.  Now,  whar  win 
I  at?" 

"Wiley  Wolf  was  in  the  bag-"  the  little  boy 
answered. 

"Ah-h-h!  Right  whar  Riley  Rab  lef  *im.  He 
wuz  in  de  bag  an*  dar  he  stayed  twel  oV  Bret 
Wolf  come  fum  whar  he  been  workin*  in  de  fiel* 
— ■  de  creeturs  wuz  mos'ly  farmers  in  dem  days. 
He  come  back,  he  did,  an"  he  see  de  bag,  an'  he 
know  by  de  bulk  un  it  dat  dey  wuz  sump'n  in  it„ 
an*  he  *uz  so  greedy  dat  his  mouf  fair  dribbled. 
Now,  den,  when  Wiley  Wolf  got  in  de  bag*  h© 
wuz  mighty  tired.  He  *d  been  a-scufflin*  an  a- 
rastlin'  twel  he  wuz  plum*  wos  out.  He  hear  Riley 
Rab  say  he  wuz  comin*  back*  an8  while  he  wuz 
waitin*,  he  drapt  off  ter  sleep,  an'  dar  he  wujs 
when  his  daddy  come  home  —  souif  asleep, 

"  01'  Brer  Wolf  ain't  got  but  one  idee,  an*  dat 
wuz  dat  Riley  Rab  wuz  in  de  bag,  so  he  went  terf 
de  winder*  an'  ax  ef  de  pot  wuz  b'ilin',  an  his  08 
'oman  say  'twuz,  Wid  dat,  he  pick  up  de  bag,  an' 
fo*  you  eouid  bat  yo"  eye,  he  had  it  soused  m  M 
pot" 


m  TOLD  BY  UNCUS  REMUS 

'In  the  boiling  water!'    exclaimed  the  child, 
'  Dats  de  way  de  tale  runs/*  replied    IJncte 

Remus.  "Ez  dey  gun  it  ter  me,  s*?  *  pm  it  ne 


BROTHER  RABBIT  S  LATJGHINOP&ACB 

THIS  new  little  boy  was  intensely  practl 
cal.  He  had  imagination,  but  it  was 
unaccompanied  by  any  of  the  ancient 
illusions  that  make  the  memory  of  childhood  so 
delightful.  Young  as  he  was  he  had  a  contempt 
for  those  who  believed  in  Santa  Claus  He  be- 
lieved only  in  things  that  his  mother  considered 
valid  and  vital,  and  his  training  had  been  of  such 
a  character  as  to  leave  out  all  the  beautiful  ro- 
mances of  childhood. 

Thus  when  Uncle  Remus  mentioned  some- 
thing about  Brother  Rabbit's  laughing-place* 
l,,he  pictured  it  forth  in  his  mind  as  a  sure- 
enough  place  that  the  four-footed  creatures  had 
found  necessary  for  their  comfort  and  con- 
venience. This  way  of  looking  at  things  was, 
in  some  measure,  a  great  help;  it  cut  off  long 


H  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

explanations*  and  stopped  many  an  embarrass* 
mg  question. 

On  one  occasion  when  the  two  were  together* 
the  little  boy  referred  to  Brother  Rabbit's  laugh- 
ing-place and  talked  about  it  in  much  the  same 
way  that  he  would  have  talked  about  Atlanta.  If 
Uncle  Remus  was  unprepared  for  such  literalness 
he  displayed  no  astonishment,  and  for  all  the 
child  knew,  he  had  talked  the  matter  over  with 
hundreds  of  other  little  boys, 

"  Uncle  Remus/*  said  the  lad,  **when  was  the 
last  time  you  went  to  Brother  Rabbit's  laughing' 
place?*' 

*s  To  tell  you  de  trufe,  honey,  I  dunno  ez  I  evei 
been  dar/"  the-old  man  responded. 

"Now,  I  think  that  is  very  queer/*  remarked 
the  little  boy 

Uncle  Remus  reflected  a  moment  before  com- 
mitting himself  *'  1  dunno  ez  I  yever  went  right 
spang  ter  de  place  an'  put  my  han*  on  it.  I.  speck  I 
could  a  gone  dar  wid  mighty  little  trouble,  but  I 
wuz  so  use  ter  hearin*  'bout  it  dat  de  idee  er 
grwme  dar  ain't  never  got  in  my  head.  It  *s  sorter 


BROTHER  RABBIT'S  LAUGHING-PJLACE  B6 

like  oP  Mr.  Grissom's  house.  Dey  say  he  lives  in 
a  quare  little  shanty  not  fur  fum  de  mill.  I  know 
right  whar  de  shanty  is,  yit  I  ain't  never  been  dar, 
an'  I  ain't  never  seed  it. 

"  It 's  de  same  way  wid  Brer  Rabbit's  laughing- 
place.  Dem  what  toP  me  'bout  it  had  likely  been 
dar,  but  I  ain't  never  had  no  'casion  fer  ter  go  dar 
myse'f.  Yit  ef  I  could  walk  fifteen  er  sixty  mile  & 
day,  like  I  useter,  I  boun'  you  I  could  go  right 
now  an'  put  my  han'  on  de  place.  Dey  wuz  om 
time  —  but  dat  's  a  tale,  an',  goodness  knows* 
you  done  hear  nuff  tales  er  one  kin'  an'  anudder 
fer  ter  make  a  hoss  sick  —  dey  ain't  no  two  ways 
'bout  dat." 

Uncle  Remus  paused  and  sighed,  and  then 
closed  his  eyes  with  a  groan,  as  though  he  were 
sadly  exercised  in  spirit;  but  his  eyes  were  not 
shut  so  tight  that  he  could  not  observe  the  face  of 
the  child.  It  was  a  prematurely  grave  little  face 
that  the  old  man  saw  and  whether  this  was  the 
result  of  the  youngster's  environment,  or  his 
training,  or  his  temperament,  it  would  have 
been  difficult  to  say.  But  there  it  was,  the  gravity 


ft  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

that  was  only  infrequently  disturbed  by  laughter. 
Uncle  Remus  perhaps  had  seen  more  laughter  in 
that  little  face  than  any  one  else.  Occasionally  the 
things  that  the  child  laughed  at  were  those  that 
would  have  convulsed  other  children,  but  more 
frequently,  as  it  seemed,  his  smiles  were  the  re- 
sult of  his  own  reflections  and  mental  compari- 
sons. 

"I  tell  you  what,  honey,"  said  Uncle  Remus, 
opening  wide  his  eyes,  "  dat  's  de  ve'y  thing  you 
oughter  have." 

"What  is  it?"  the  child  inquired,  though  ap- 
parently he  had  no  interest  in  the  matter. 

"  What  you  want  is  a  laughin'-place,  whar  you 
kin  go  an'  tickle  yo'se'f  an'  laugh  whedder  you 
wanter  laugh  er  no.  I  boun'  ef  you  had  a  laughin'- 
place,  you  'd  gain  flesh,  an'  when  yo'  pa  comes 
down  fum  'Lantamatantarum,  he  would  n't 
skacely  know  you." 

"But  I  don't  want  father  not  to  know  me," 
the  child  answered.  "If  he  didn't  know  me,  I 
should  feel  as  if  I  were  some  one  else." 

"  Oh,  he  'd  know  you  bimeby,"  said  Uncle  Re- 


BROTHER  RABBIT'S  LAUGHING-PLACE  S7 

mus,  "  an'  he  'd  be  all  de  gladder  fer  ter  see  you 
lookin'  like  somebody." 

"  Do  I  look  like  nobody  ?  "  asked  the  little  boy, 

"When  you  fust  come  down  here,"  Uncle  Re- 
mus answered,  "you  look  like  nothin'  'tall,  but 
sence  you  been  ramblin'  roun'  wid  me,  you  done 
'gun  ter  look  like  somebody  —  mos'  like  urn." 

"  I  reckon  that 's  because  I  have  a  laughing- 
place,"  said  the  child.  "You  didn't  know  I  had 
one,  did  you  ?  I  have  one,  but  you  are  the  first 
person  in  the  world  that  I  have  told  about  it." 

"Well,  sun?"  Uncle  Remus  exclaimed  with 
well-feigned  astonishment;  "an'  you  been  settin* 
here  LVnin'  at  me,  an'  all  de  time  you  got  a 
laughin'-place  er  yo'  own!  I  never  would  'a* 
b'lieved  it  uv  you.  Wharbouts  is  dish  yer  place  ?" 

iC  It  is  right  here  where  you  are,"  said  the  little 
boy  with  a  winning  smile. 

" Honey,  you  don't  tell  me!"  exclaimed  the  old 
man,  looking  all  around.  "Ef  you  kin  see  it,  you 
see  mo'  dan  I  does  —  dey  ain't  no  two  ways  'bout 
dat." 

"Why,  you  are  my  laughing-place,"  cried  the 


68  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

little  lad  with  an  extraordinary  burst  of  enthu* 

siasm. 

"Well,  I  thank  my  stars!"  said  Uncle  Remus 
with  emotion.  "You  sho*  does  need  ter  laugh  lots 
mo'  dan  what  you  does.  But  what  make  you 
laugh  at  me,  honey  ?  Is  my  britches  too  big,  er  is  I 
too  big  fer  my  britches  ?  You  neen'ter  laugh  at  dis 
coat,  kaze  it 's  one  dat  yo'  grandaddy  useter 
have.  It 's  mighty  nigh  new,  kaze  I  ain't  wo'd  it 
mo'  dan  'lev'm  year.  It  may  look  shiny  in  places, 
but  when  you  see  a  coat  look  shiny,  it 's  a  sign 
dat  it 's  des  ez  good  ez  new.  You  can't  laugh  at 
my  shoes,  kaze  I  made  um  myse'f,  an'  ef  dey  lack 
shape  dat 's  kaze  I  made  um  fer  ter  fit  my  rheu- 
matism an'  my  foots  bofe." 

"  Why,  I  never  laughed  at  you ! "  exclaimed  the 
child,  blushing  at  the  very  idea.  "  I  laugh  at  what 
you  say,  and  at  the  stories  you  tell." 

"La,  honey!  You  sho'  dunno  nothin';  you 
oughter  hearn  me  tell  tales  when  I  could  tell  um. 
I  boun'  you  'd  'a'  busted  de  buttons  off'n  yo* 
whatchermacollums.  Yo'  pa  useter  set  right  whar 
you  er  settin'  an'  laugh  twel  he  can't  laugh  no 


BROTHER  RABBIT'S  LAUGHING-PLACE  59 

mo'.  But  dem  wuz  laughin'  times,  an'  it  look  like 
dey  ain't  never  eomin'  back.  Dat  'uz  'fo'  eve'y- 
body  wuz  rushin'  roun'  trying  fer  ter  git  money 
what  don't  b'long  ter  um  by  good  rights." 

"I  was  thinking  to  myself,"  remarked  the 
child,  "that  if  Brother  Rabbit  had  a  laughing- 
place  I  had  a  better  one." 

"Honey,  hush!"  exclaimed  Uncle  Remus  with 
a  laugh.  "You  '11  have  me  gwine  roun*  here  wid 
my  head  in  de  a'r,  an'  feelin'  so  biggity  dat  I 
won't  look  at  my  own  se'f  in  de  lookin'-glass.  I 
ain't  too  ol'  fer  dat  kinder  talk  ter  sp'ile  me." 

"Didn't  you  say  there  was  a  tale  about 
Brother  Rabbit's  laughing-place?"  inquired  the 
little  boy,  when  Uncle  Remus  ceased  to  admire 
himself. 

"I  dunner  whedder  you  kin  call  it  a  tale,"  re- 
plied the  old  man.  "  It 's  mighty  funny  'bout 
tales,"  he  went  on.  "Tell  um  ez  you  may  an* 
whence  you  may,  some  '11  say  tain't  no  tale,  an* 
den  ag'in  some  '11  say  dat  it 's  a  fine  tale.  Dey 
ain't  no  tellin'.  Dat  de  reason  I  don't  like  ter  tell 
no  tale  ter  grown  folks,  speshually  ef  dey  er  white 


CO  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

folks.  Dey  '11  take  it  an'  put  it  by  de  side  er  some 
yuther  tale  what  dey  got  in  der  min'  an"  dey  '11 
take  on  dat  slonchidickler  grin  what  allers  say, 
*  Go  way,  nigger  man !  You  dunner  what  a  tale 
is!'  An'  I  don't  —  I  '11  say  dat  much  fer  ter  keep 
some  un  else  fum  sayin'  it. 

"Now,  'bout  dat  laughin'-place  —  it  seem  like 
cat  one  time  de  creeturs  got  ter  'sputin'  'mongs' 
deyselves  ez  ter  which  un  kin  laugh  de  loudest. 
One  word  fotch  on  an'er  twel  it  look  like  dey  wuz 
gwineter  be  a  free  fight,  a  rumpus  an'  a  riot.  Dey 
show'd  der  claws  an'  tushes,  an'  shuck  der  horns, 
an*  rattle  der  hoof.  Dey  had  der  bristles  up,  an'  it 
look  like  der  eyes  wuz  runnin'  blood,  dey  got 
so  red. 

"  Des  'bout  de  time  when  it  look  like  you  can't 
keep  um  'part,  little  Miss  Squinch  Owl  fiew'd  up 
a  tree  an'  'low,  '  You  all  dunner  what  laughin'  is 
—  ha-ha-ha-ha !  You  can't  laugh  when  you  try 
ter  laugh  —  ha-ha-ha-haha ! '  De  creeturs  wuz 
'stonisht.  Here  wuz  a  little  fowl  not  much  bigger 
dan  a  jay-bird  laughin'  herse'f  blin*  when  dey 
wa'  n't  a  thing  in  de  roun'  worl*  fer  ter  laugh  at. 


BROTHER  RABBIT'S  LAUGHING-PLACE  61 

Dey  stop  der  quoilin'  alter  dat  an'  look  at  one 
an'er.  Brer  Bull  say,  'Is  anybody  ever  hear  de 
beat  er  dat  ?  Who  mought  de  lady  be  ? '  Dey  all 
say  dey  durnio,  an'  dey  got  a  mighty  good  reason 
fer  der  sesso,  kaze  Miss  Squinch  Owl,  she  fiies  at 
night  wid  de  bats  an'  de  Betsey  Bugs. 

"Well,  dey  quit  der  quoilin',  de  creeturs  did, 
but  dey  still  had  der  'spute;  de  comin'  er  Miss 
Squinch  Owl  ain't  settle  dat.  So  dey  'gree  dat 
dey  'd  meet  some'rs  when  de  wedder  got  better, 
an'  try  der  han'  at  laughin'  fer  ter  see  which  un 
kin  outdo  de  yuther."  Observing  that  the  little 
boy  was  laughing  very  heartily,  Uncle  Remus 
paused  long  enough  to  inquire  what  had  hit  him 
on  his  funny-bone. 

"  I  was  laughing  because  you  said  the  animals 
were  going  to  meet  an'  try  their  hand  at  laugh- 
ing," replied  the  lad  when  he  could  get  breath 
enough  to  talk. 

Uncle  Remus  regarded  the  child  with  a  benev- 
olent smile  of  admiration.  "Youer  lonf  wavs 
ahead  er  me  —  you  sho'  is.  Dey  ain't  na'er  n'er 
chap  in  de  worl'  what  'd  'a'  cotch  on  so  quick. 


m  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

You  put  me  in  min'  er  de  peerch,  what  grab  de 
bait  'fo'  it  hit  de  water.  Well,  dat  's  what  de  cree- 
turs  done.  Dey  say  dey  wuz  gwineter  make  trial 
fer  ter  see  which  un  is  de  out-laughin'est  er  de 
whole  caboodle,  an'  dey  name  de  day,  an'  all 
prommus  fer  ter  be  dar,  ceppin'  Brer  Rabbit,  an5 
he  'low  dat  he  kin  laugh  well  nufT  fer  ter  suit  his- 
se'f  an'  his  f  ambly,  'sides  dat,  he  don't  keer  'bout 
laughin'  less'n  dey  's  sump'n  fer  ter  laugh  at.  De 
yuther  creeturs  dey  beg  'im  fer  ter  come,  but  he 
shake  his  head  an'  wiggle  his  mustache,  an'  say 
dat  when  he  wanter  laugh,  he  got  a  laughin'-place 
fer  ter  go  ter,  whar  de  won't  be  pestered  by  de 
balance  er  creation.  He  say  he  kin  go  dar  anr 
laugh  his  fill,  an'  den  go  on  'bout  his  business,  ef 
he  got  any  business,  an'  ef  he  ain't  got  none,  he 
kin  go  ter  play. 

"  De  yuther  creeturs  ain't  know  what  ter  make 
er  all  dis,  an'  dey  wonder  an'  wonder  how  Brer 
Rabbit  kin  have  a  laughin'-place  an'  dey  ain't 
got  none.  When  dey  ax  'im  'bout  it,  he  'spon',  he 
did,  dat  he  speck  'twuz  des  de  diffunce  'twix  one 
creetur  an'  an'er.  He  ax  um  fer  ter  look  at  folks, 


BROTHER  RABBIT'S  LAUGHING-PLACE  6$. 

how  difTunt  dey  wuz,  let  'lone  de  creeturs.  One 
man  'd  be  rich  an'  an'er  man  po',  an'  he  ax  how 
come  dat. 

"Well,  suh,  dey  des  natchally  can't  tell  'im 
what  make  de  difTunce  'twix  folks  no  mo'  dan 
dey  kin  tell  'im  de  difTunce  'twix'  de  creeturs. 
Dey  wuz  stumped;  dey  done  fergit  all  'bout 
de  trial  what  wuz  ter  come  off,  but  Brer  Rab- 
bit fotch  um  back  ter  it.  He  say  dey  ain't  no- 
needs  fer  ter  see  which  kin  outdo  all  de  balance 
un  um  in  de  laughin'  business,  kaze  anybody 
what  got  any  sense  know  dat  de  donkey  is  a 
natchal  laugher,  same  as 
Brer  Coon  is  a  natchal 
pacer. 

"  Brer  B'ar  look  at  Brer 
Wolf,  an'  Brer  Wolf  look 
at    Brer    Fox,    an'    den 
dey  all  look  at  one  an- 
'er. Brer  Bull,  he  say, 
'Well,  well,  well!'  an' 
den    he    groan ;    Brer 

i>  ar    Say,      VvnO    Q     a        M  '.Gracious  me  I '  an'  den  lie  howl 


64  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

thunk  it?'  an'  den  he  growl;  an'  Brer  Wolf  say^ 
f' Gracious  me!'  an'  den  he  howl.  Atter  dat,  dey 
ain't  say  much,  kaze  dey  ain't  much  fer  ter  say. 
Dey  des  stan'  roun'  an'  look  kinder  sheepish.  Dey 
ain't  'spute  wid  Brer  Uabbit,  dough  dey  'd  'a' 
like  ter  'a'  done  it,  but  dey  sot  about  an'  make 
marks  in  de  san'  des  like  you  see  folks  do  when 
deyer  tryin'  fer  ter  git  der  thinkin'  machine  ter 
work. 

"  Well,  suh,  dar  dey  sot  an'  dar  dey  stood.  Dey 
ax  Brer  Rabbit  how  he  know  how  ter  fin'  his 
laughin'-place,  an'  how  he  know  it 
wuz    a   laughin'-place  atter  he 
got  dar.    He  tap  hisse'f  on  de 
head,  he  did,  an'  'low   dat  dey 
wuz  a  heap  mo'  und'  his  hat  dan 
what  you  could   git  out  wid  a 
fine-tool  comb.    Den  dey  ax  ef 
dey  kin  see  his  laughin'-place, 
an'  he  say  he  'd  take  de  idee 
ter  bed  wid  'im,  an'  study  'pon 
it,  but  he  kin  say  dis  much 

"Brer  Rabbit  lie  put  his 

right  den,  dat  if  he  did  let  urn       hem'  ter  his  head" 


■':•' 


■ /*;■■■: 


BROTHER  RABBIT'S  LAUGHING-PLACE  65 

see  it,  dey  'd  hatter  go  dar  one  at  a  time,  an' 
dey  'd  hatter  do  des  like  he  say;  ef  dey  don't 
dey  '11  git  de  notion  dat  it 's  a  cryin'-place. 

"Dey  'gree  ter  dis,  de  creeturs  did,  an'  den 
Brer  Rabbit  say  dat  while  deyer  all  der  terged- 
der,  dey  better  choosen  mongs'  deyse'f  which  un 
uv  um  wuz  gwine  fus',  an'  he  'd  choosen  de  re: 
when  de  time  come.  Dey  jowered  an'  jowered,  an' 
bimeby,  dey  hatter  leave  it  all  ter  Brer  Rabbit. 
Brer  Rabbit,  he  put  his  han'  ter  his  head,  an'  shot 
his  eyeballs  an'  do  like  he  studyin'.  He  say  'De 
mo'  I  think  'bout  who  shill  be  de  fus'  one,  de  mo' 
I  git  de  idee  dat  it  oughter  be  Brer  Fox.  He  been 
here  long  ez  anybody,  an'  he  's  purty  well  thunk 
uv  by  de  neighbors  — - 1  ain't  never  hear  nobody 
breave  a  breff  ag'in  'im.' 

"  Dey  all  say  dat  dey  had  Brer  Fox  in  min'  all 
de  time,  but  somehow  dey  can't  come  right  ou' 
wid  his  name,  an'  dey  vow  dat  ef  dey  had  'greed 
on  somebody,  dat  somebody  would  sho'  'a'  been 
Brer  Fox.  Den,  atter  dat,  'twuz  all  plain  sailin'. 
Brer  Rabbit  say  he  'd  meet  Brer  Fox  at  sech  an' 
tech  a  place,  at  sech  an'  sech  a  time,  an'  atter  dat 


66  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

dey  wa  n't  no  mo'  ter  be  said.  De  creeturs 
all  went  ter  de  place  whar  dey  live  at,  an' 
done  des  like  dey  allers  done. 

'Brer  Rabbit  make  a 
soon  start  fer  ter     *^4^ 
go  ter  de  p'int  whar 


he  prom-  /'. 

mns  ter  met 

Brer  Fox,  but  soon 

he  wuz,  Brer  Fox  wuz 

dar  bef  o'  'im.  It  seem 

like  he  wuz  so  much 

in  de  habits  er  bein' 

outdone  by  Brer  Rabbit  dat  he  can't  do  widout  it. 

Brer  Rabbit  bow,  he  did,  an'  pass  de  time  er  day 


41  De  creeturs  all  went  ter  de  place 
whar  dey  live  at " 


BROTHER  RABBIT'S  LAUGHING-PLACE  6T 

wid  Brer  Fox,  an'  ax  'im  how  his  fambly  wuz. 
Brer  Fox  say  dey  wuz  peart  ez  kin  be,  an'  den  he 
'low  dat  he  ready  an'  a-waitin'  fer  ter  go  an'  see 
dat  great  laughin'-piace  what  Brer  Rabbit  been 

talkin'    'bout. 
"BrerRab- 


u  Bui  soon  ez  he  wuz,  Brer  Fox  wuz  dar  befo*  'im  " 

bit  say  dat  suit  him  ter  a  gnat's  heel,  an*  off 
dey  put.  Bimeby  dey  come  ter  one  er  deze  here 
cle'r  places  dat  you  sometimes  see  in  de  mid- 
dle uv  a  pine  thicket.  You  may  ax  yo'se'f  how 


68  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

come  dey  don't  no  trees  grow  dar  when  dey  's 
trees  all  round,  but  you  ain't  gwineter  git  no  an- 
swer, an'  needer  is  dey  anybody  what  kin  tell  you. 
Dey  got  dar,  dey  did,  an'  den  Brer  Rabbit  make  a 
halt.  Brer  Fox  'low,  *  Is  dis  de  place  ?  I  don't  feel 
no  mo'  like  laughin'  now  dan  I  did  'fo'  I  come.' 

"  Brer  Rabbit,  he  say,  'Des  keep  yo'  jacket  on, 
Brer  Fcx;  ef  you  git  in  too  big  a  hurry  it  might 
come  off.  We  done  come  mighty  nigh  ter  de  place, 
an*  ef  you  wanter  do  some  ol'  time  laughin', 
you  '11  hatter  do  des  like  I  tell  you;  ef  you  don't 
wanter  laugh,  I  '11  des  show  you  de  place,  an' 
we  '11  go  on  back  whar  we  come  fum,  kaze  dis  is 
one  er  de  days  dat  I  ain't  got  much  time  ter  was'e, 
laughin'  er  cryin'.'  Brer  Fox  'low  dat  he  ain't  so 
mighty  greedy  ter  laugh,  an'  wid  dat,  Brer  Rabbit 
whirl  roun',  he  did,  an'  make  out  he  gwine  on 
oack  whar  he  live  at.  Brer  Fox  holler  at  'im;  he 
say,  'Come  on  back,  Brer  Rabbit;  I  'in  des  a- 
projickin'  wid  you.' 

' '  Ef  you  wanter  projick,  Brer  Fox,  you  '11  hat- 
ter go  home  an'  projick  wid  dem  what  wanter  be 
Drojicked  wid.  I  ain't  here  kaze  I  wanter  be  heie. 


BROTHER  RABBIT'S  LAUGHING-PLACE  69 

You  ax  me  fer  ter  show  you  my  laughin'-place, 
an'  I  'greed.  I  speck  we  better  be  gwine  on  back.* 
Brer  Fox  say  he  come  fer  ter  see  Brer  Rabbit's 
laughin'-place,  an'  he  ain't  gwineter  be  satcliify 
twel  he  see  it.  Brer  Rabbit  'low  dat  ef  dat  de  case, 
den  he  mus'  ac'  de  gentermun  all  de  way  thoo?  an* 
quit  his  behavishness.  Brer  Fox  say  he  'li  do  de 
best  he  kin,  an'  den  Brer  Rabbit  show  'im  a  place 
whar  de  bamboo  briars,  an'  de  blackberry 
bushes,  an'  de  honeysuckles  done  start  ter  come 
in  de  pine  thicket,  an'  can't  come  no  furder, 
'Twa'  n't  no  thick  place;  'twuz  des  whar  de 
swamp  at  de  foot  er  de  hill  peter'd  out  in  tryin5 
ter  come  ter  dry  Ian'.  De  bushes  an'  vines  wuz 
thin  an'  scanty,  an'  ef  dey  could  'a'  talked  dey  'd 
'a'  hollered  loud  fer  water. 

"  Brer  Rabbit  show  Brer  Fox  de  place,  an'  den 
tell  'im  dat  de  game  is  fer  ter  run  full  tilt  thoo  de 
vines  an'  bushes,  an'  den  run  back,  an'  thoo  um 
ag'in  an'  back,  an'  he  say  he  'd  bet  a  plug  er  ter- 
backer  'g'in  a  ginger  cake  dat  by  de  time  Brer 
Fox  done  dis  he  'd  be  dat  tickled  dat  he  can't 
stan'  up  fer  laughin'.  Brer  Fox  shuck  his  head;  he 


70  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

ain't  nigh  b'lieve  it,  but  fer  all  dat,  he  make  up 
his  ruin'  fer  ter  do  what  Brer  Rabbit  say,  spite  er 


(AWLi 


" His  61 '  'oman  done  icll  him  dai  he  better  keep  his  eye  open " 

de  fack  dat  his  ol'  'oman  done  tell  'im  'fo'  he  lef * 
home  dat  he  better  keep  his  eye  open,  kaze  Brer 
Rabbit  gwineter  run  a  rig  on  'im. 

"He  tuck  a  runnin'  start,  he  did,  an'  he  went 
thoo  de  bushes  an'  de  vines  like  he  wuz  runnin'  a 
race.  He  run  an'  he  come  back  a-runnin',  an'  he 
run  back,  an'  dat  time  he  struck  sump'n  wid  his 


BROTHER  RABBIT'S  LAUGHING-PLACE  7% 

head.  He  try  ter  dodge  it,  but  he  seed  It  too  late, 
an'  he  wuz  gwine  too  fas'.  He  struck  it,  he  did, 
an*  time  he  do  dat,  he  fetched  a  howl  dat  you 
might  'a'  hearn  a  mile,  an,  atter  dat,  he  holler'dt 
yap,  yap,  yap,  an'  ouch,  ouch,  ouch,  an'  yowff 
yow,  yow,  an'  whiles  dis  wuz  gwine  on  Brer  Rab- 
bit wuz  thumpin'  de  ground  wid  his  behime  foot? 
an'  laughin' 
fit  ter  kill. 
Brer  Fox  run 
roun'  an 
roun',  an 
kep'  on  snap- 
pin'  at  his- 
se'f  an'  doin' 
like  he  wuz 
tryhv  fer  ter 
t'ar  his  hide 
off.  He  run, 
an'    he    roll, 

oji'      wallow  M  An1  dai  lime  he  struck  9ump'n  wid  his  head'1" 

an'  holler,  an'  fall,  an'  squall  twel  it  look  like  h® 
Wuz  havin*  forty-lev'm  duck  fits. 


72  lOLAJ  br  UNCLE  REMUS 

"He  got  still  atter  while,  but  de  mo>  stiller  he 
got,  de  wqss  he  looked.  His  head  wuz  all  swell  up, 
an'  he  look  like  he  been  run  over  in  de  road  by  a 
fo'-mule  waggin.  Brer  Rabbit  'low,  *  I  'in  glad 
you  had  sech  a  good  time,  Brer  Fox;  I  '11  hattei 
fetch  you  out  ag'in.  You  sho'  done  like  you  wuz 
liavin'  fun.'  Brer  Fox  ain't  say  a  word ;  he  wuz  too 
mad  fer  ter  talk.  He  des  sot  aroun'  an'  lick  hisse'f 
an*  try  ter  git  his  ha'r  straight.  Brer  Rabbit  'low, 
fc  You  ripped  aroun*  in  dar  twel  I  wuz  skeer'd  you 
wuz  gwine  ter  hurt  yo'se'f,  an'  I  b'lieve  in  my  soul 
you  done  gone  an'  bump  yo'  head  ag'in  a  tree, 
kaze  it  *s  all  swell  up.  You  better  go  home,  Brer 
Fox,  an'  let  yo'  oP  'oman  poultice  you  up.* 

"Brer  Fox  show  his  tushes,  an'  say,  'You  said 
dis  wuz  a  laughin'-place.'  Brer  Rabbit'low,'  I  said 
'  twuz  my  laughin'-plaee,  an'  I  '11  say  it  ag'in.  What 
you  reckon  I  been  doin'  all  dis  time  ?  Ain't  you 
hearme  laughin'  ?  An' what  you  been  doin'  ?  I  hear 
you  niakin'  a  mighty  fuss  in  dar,  an'  I  say  ter  my- 
se'f  dat  Brer  Fox  is  havin'  a  mighty  big  time.' 

**  *  I  let  you  know  dat  I  ain't  been  laughin','  sez 
Brer  Fox,  sezee." 


BROTHER  RABBIT'S  JLAUGHING-PLACE  n 

Uncle  Remus  paused,  and  waited  to  be  ques- 
tioned. "  What  was  the  matter  with  the  Fox,  if  he 
was  n't    laughing  ? M    the    child    asked    after    a 

thoughtful  moment 

Uncle  Remus  flung  his  head  back,  and  cried 
out  in  a  sing-song  tone, 

s*  He  run  ter  de  Eas\  an'  he  run  ter  de  Wes9 
An'  jammed  his  head  in  a  homefs  ties'!  '* 


BROTHER   RABBIT  AND   THE   CHICKENfe 

"NCLE  REMUS  was  sorely  puzzled  as 
of  the  best  method  of  pleasing  this 
youngstei\  He  was  n't  sure  the  little 
boy  enjoyed  such  tales  as  the  one  in  which  Riley 
Rabbit  turned  the  tables  on  Wiley  Wolf.  So  he 
ventured  a  question.  "  Honey,  what  kinder  tales 
does  you  like  ?  " 

**Oh,  I  like  them  all,"  replied  the  little  boy. 
ei  only  some  are  nicer  than  the  others ; "  and  then, 
without  waiting  for  an  invitation,  he  told  Uncle 
Remus  the  story  of  Cinderella.  He  told  it  very 
well  for  a  small  chap,  and  Uncle  Remus  pre- 
tended to  enjoy  it,  although  he  had  heard  it  hun- 
dreds of  times. 

"  It  *s  a  mighty  purty  tale, "  he  said  "  It  *s  so 
purty  dat  you  dunner  whedder  ter  b'lieve  it  er 
not.  Yit  I  speck  it 's  so,  kaze  one  time  in  forty- 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  THE  CHICKENS  W 

iev'm  hunderd  matters  will  turn  out  right  een* 
upperds.  Now,  de  creeturs  never  had  no  god- 
rn'ers ;  dey  des  hatter  scuffle  an'  scramble  an'  git 
'long  de  bes'  way  dey  kin. " 

"  But  they  were  very  cruel, "  remarked  the  little 
boy, "  and  they  told  stories. " 

"  When  it  come  ter  dat, "  Uncle  Remus  replied, 
"  de  creeturs  ain't  much  ahead  er  folks,  an*  yit 
folks  is  got  preachers  fer  ter  tell  um  when  deyer 
gwine  wrong.  Mo'  dan  dat,  dey  got  de  Bible;  an* 
yit  when  you  git  a  little  older,  you  '11  wake  up 
some  fine  day  an'  say  ter  yo'se'f  dat  de  creeturs  is 
got  de  'vantage  er  fciks,  spite  er  de  fack  dat  dey 
ain't  know  de  diffunce  'twix'  right  an'  wrong. 
Dey  got  ter  live  'cordin'  ter  der  natur',  kaze  dey 
ain't  know  no  better.  I  had  in  min*  a  tale  'bout 
Brer  Rabbit  an'  de  chickens,  but  I  speck  it  'd 
hurt  you'  feelin's. " 

The  little  boy  said  nothing  for  some  time;  he 
was  evidently  expecting  Uncle  Remus  to  go 
ahead  with  his  story.  But  he  was  mistaken  about 
this,  for  when  the  old  man  b^oke  the  silence,  it 
was  to  speak  of  something  trivial  or  common* 


16  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

place*  The  child,  in  spite  of  the  training  to  which 
he  had  been  subjected,  retained  his  boy's  nature. 
6f Uncle  Remus,"  he  said,  "what  about  Brother 
Rabbit  and  the  chickens  ?" 

** Which  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  dat,  honey?0  iie 
asked  vvith  apparent  surprise. 

"You  said  something  about  Brother  Rabbit 
and  the  chickens." 

"Who?  Me?  I  mought  er  said  sump'n  'bout 
mm  day  'f o'  yistiddy,  but  it  done  gone  off  'n  my 
min\  I  done  got  so  ol'  dat  my  min'  flutters  like  a 
bird  in  de  bush. " 

"  Why,  you  said  that  there  was  a  tale  about 
Brother  Rabbit  and  the  chickens,  but  if  you  told 
it,  my  feelings  would  be  hurt.  You  must  think  I 
am  a  girl. " 

Uncle  Remus  laughed.  "Not  ez  bad  ez  dat, 
honey;  but  I  'm  fear'd  youer  monstous  tetcheus. 
1 5il  tell  you  de  tale,  an'  den  you  kin  tell  it  ter  yos 
pa,  kaze  it 's  one  he  ain't  never  hear  tell  'bout. 

"Well,  den,  one  time,  'way  back  yander  dey 
wuz  a  man  what  live  neighbor  ter  de  creeturs, 
Dey  wa*  n*t  nothin*  quare  'bout  dis  Mr.  Man;  he 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  THE  CHICKENS  11 

wuz  des  a  plain,  eveyday  kinder  man,  an*  he  try 
ter  git  'long  de  best  he  kin.  He  ain't  had  no  easy 
time,  needer,  kaze  'twant  den  like  'tis  now, 
when  you  kin  take  yo'  cotton  er  yo'  corn  ter  town 
an*  have  de  money  planked  down  fer  you. 

"In  dem  times  dey  wa'  n't  no  town,  an*  not 
much  money.  What  folks  dey  wuz  hatter  git 
'long  by  swappin*  an'  traffickin'.  How  dey  done 
it,  I  '11  never  tell  you,  but  do  it  dey  did,  an*  if 
seem  like  dey  wuz  in  about  ez  happy  ez  folks  is 
deze  days. 

"Well,  dish  yer  Mr.  Man  what  I  *m  a-tellin4 
you  'bout,  he  had  a  truck  patch,  an'  a  roas'in* 
year  patch,  an'  a  goober  patch.  He  grow'd  wheat 
au?  barley,  an'  likewise  rye,  an'  kiss  de  gals  an* 
make  um  cry.  An'  on  top  er  dat,  he  had  a  whole 
yard  full  er  chickens,  an'  dar'  s  whar  de  trouble 
come  in.  In  dem  times,  all  er  de  creeturs  wuz 
meat-eaters,  an'  twuz  in  about  ez  much  ez  dey 
&m  do,  an*  sometimes  a  little  mo*,  fer  ter  git  'long 
so  dey  won't  go  ter  bed  hongry,  Dey  got  in  de 
habit  er  bein*  hongry,  an*  dey  ain't  never  git  over 
kt.  Look  at  Brer  Wolf  —  gaunt;  look  at  Brer  Fox 


38  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

—  gaunt!  Dey  ain't  never  been  able  fer  ter  make 
deyse'f  fat. 

"So  den,  ez  you  see  um  now,  dat  de  way  dey 
wuz  in  dem  days,  an*  a  little  mo*  so,  Mr.  Man, 
he  had  chickens,  des  like  I  tell  you.  Hens  e2 
plump  ez  a  partridge;  pullets  so  slick  dey  'd  make 
yo'  mouf  waters  an'  fryin'-size  chickens  dat  look 
like  dey  want  ter  git  right  in  de  pan.  Now,  when 
dat 's  de  case,  what  you  reckon  gwineter  happen  ? 
Brer  Wolf  want  chicken ;  Brer  Fox  want  chicken, 
an*  Brer  Rabbit  want  chicken.  An'  dey  ain't  got 
aothin*  what  dey  kin  swap  fer  um.  In  deze  days 
dey  'd  be  called  po',  but  I  take  notice  dat  po' 
folks  gits  des  ez  hongiy  ez  de  rich  uns  —  an' 
hongrier,  when  it  comes  ter  dat;  yes,  Lord!  lots 
hongrier, 

"Well,  de  creeturs  got  mighty  frien'ly  wid  Mr, 
Man.  Dey  'd  call  on  'im}  speshually  on  Sundays, 
an"  he  ain't  had  no  better  sense  dan  ter  cluck  up 
his  chickens  des  ter  show  um  what  a  nice  passel 
he  had.  When  dis  happen,  Brer  Wolf  under- jaw 
would  trimble,  an'  Brer  Fox  would  dribble  at  de 
mouf  same  ez  a  baby  what  cuttin'  his  toofies.  Ea 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  THE  CHICKENS  79 

fer  Brer  Rabbit,  he  'd  des  laugh,  an'  nobody  ain't 
know  what  he  laughin'  at.  It  went  on  dis  way  twel 
it  look  like  natur'  can't  stan'  it,  an*  den,  bimeby, 
one  night  when  de  moon  ain't  shinin',  Brer  Rab- 
bit take  a  notion  dat  he  'd  call  on  Mr.  Man;  but 
when  he  got  ter  de  place,  Mr.  Man  done  gone  ter 
bed.  De  lights  wuz  all  out,  an'  de  dog  wuz  quiled 
up  un'  de  house  soun'  asleep. 

"Brer  Rabbit  shake  his  head.  He  'low,  'Sholy 
dey  's  sump'n  wrong,  kaze  allers,  when  I  come, 
Mr.  Man  call  up  his  chickens  whar  I  kin  look  at 
vm.'  I  dunner  what  de  matter  wid  'im.  An'  I 
don't  see  no  chickens,  needer.  I  boun'  you 
sump'n  done  happen,  an'  nobody  ain't  tell  me  de 
news,  kaze  dey  know  how  sorry  I  'd  be.  Ef  I 
could  git  in  de  house,  I  'd  go  in  dar  an'  see  ef 
ever' thing  is  all  right;  but  I  can't  git  in.' 

"He  walk  all  'roun',  he  did,  but  he  ain't  see 
nobody.  He  wuz  so  skeer'd  he'd  wake  um  up  dat 
he  walk  on  his  tippy-toes.  He  'low,  '  Ef  Mr.  Man 
kuow'd  I  wuz  here,  he  'd  come  out  an'  show  me 
his  chickens,  an'  I  des  might  ez  well  look  in  an' 
see  ef  deyer  all  right.'  Wid  dat  he  went  ter  de 


80  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

chicken-house  an'  peep  in,  but  he  can't  se% 
nothin'.  He  went  ter  de  door,  an'  foun'  it  on- 
locked.  Brer  Rabbit  grin,  he  did,  an'  'low,  'Mr, 
Man  mos'  know'd  dat  I  'd  be  'long  some  time  ter- 
day,  an'  done  gone  an'  lef '  his  chicken-house  open 
so  I  kin  see  his  pullets  —  an'  he  know'd  dat  ef  I 
can't  see  um,  I  'd  wanter  feel  um  fer  ter  see  how 
slick  an'  purty  dey  is. ' 

"Brer  Babbit  slap  hisse'f  on  de  leg  an'  laugh 
fit  ter  kill.  He  ain't  make  fuss  nuff  fer  ter  wake 
Mr.  Man,  but  he  woke  de  fat  hens  an'  de  slick 
pullets,  an*  dey  ax  one  an'er  what  de  name  er 
goodness  is  de  matter.  Brer  Rabbit  laugh  an'  say 
ter  hisse'f  dat  ef  he  'd  'a'  brung  a  bag,  it  'd  make 
a  good  overcoat  fer  four  er  five  er  de  fat  hens,  an* 
six  er  sev'm  er  de  slick  pullets.  Den  he  'low, 
*  Why,  what  is  I  thinkin'  'bout  ?  I  got  a  bag  in  my 
han',  an'  I  fergit  dat  I  had  it.  It 's  mighty  lucky 
fer  de  chickens  dat  I  fotch  it,  kaze  a  little  mo'  — 
an'  dey  'd  'a'  been  friz  stiff ! '  So  he  scoop  in  de  bag 
ez  manyez  he  kin  tote.  He  'low,'  I  '11  take  um  home 
an'  kinder  git  um  warm,  an'  ter-morrer  Mr.  Man 
kin  have  um  back  —  ef  he  want  um,'  an'  wid  dat, 


"  Went  off  home  des  ez  gayly  ez  a  colt  in  a  barley  patch 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  THE  CHICKENS  81 

he  mighty  nigh  choke  hisse'f  tryin'  fer  ter  keep 
fum  laughin'.  De  chickens  kinder  nutter,  but  (ley 
ain't  make  much  fuss,  an'  Brer  Rabbit  flung  de 
sack  'cross  his  shoulders  an'  went  off  home  des 
ez  gayly  ez  a  colt  in  a  barley  patch." 

"  Would  n't  you  call  that  stealing,  Uncle  Re- 
mus ?"  inquired  the  little  boy  very  seriously. 

"Ef  Brer  Rabbit  had  'a'  been  folks,  it  'd  be 
called  stealin',  but  you  know  mighty  well  dat  de 
creeturs  dunno  de  diffunce  'twix'  takin'  an*  steal- 
in'.  When  it  come  ter  dat,  dey  's  a-plenty  folks 
dat  ain't  know  de  diffunce,  an'  how  you  gwineter 
blame  de  creeturs  ?"  Uncle  Remus  paused  to  see 
what  comment  the  little  boy  would  make,  but  he- 
was  silent,  though  it  is  doubtful  if  he  was  satis- 
fied. 

"Brer  Rabbit  tuck  de  chickens  on  home,  he 
did,  an'  made  way  wid  um.  Now,  dat  wuz  de  las" 
er  de  chickens,  but  des  de  beginnin's  er  de  feath- 
ers. OF  Miss  Rabbit,  she  wanter  burn  um  in  de 
fier,  but  Brer  Rabbit  say  de  whole  neighborhood 
would  smell  um,  an'  he  'low  dat  he  got  a  better 
way  dan  dat.  So,  nex'  mornin'  atter  brekkus,  he 


82  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

borried  a  bag  fum  ol'  Brer  Wolf,  an'  inter  dis  he 
stuff  de  feathers,  an'  start  off  down  de  road. 

"Well,  suh,  ez  luck  would  have  it,  Brer  Rau- 
bit  hatter  pass  by  Brer  Fox  house,  an'  who  should 
be  stannin'  at  de  gate  wid  his  walkin'-eane  in 
han',  but  Brer  Fox  ?  Brer  Fox,  he  fetched  a  bow, 
wid,  '  Brer  Rabbit,  whar  you  gwine  ? '  Brer  Rab- 
bit 'low,  'Ef  I  had  de  win',  Brer  Fox,  I  'd  be 
gwine  to  mill.  Dish  yer's  a  tumble  load  I  got,  an* 
I  dunner  how  soon  I  '11  gi'  out.  I  ain't  strong 
in  de  back  an'  limber  in  de  knees  like  I  useter  be, 
Brer  Fox.  You  may  be  holdin'  yo'  own,  an'  I 
hope  you  is,  but  I  'm  on  de  down  grade,  dey  ain't 
no  two  ways  'bout  dat.'  Wid  dat,  he  sot  de  bag 
down  by  de  side  er  de  road,  an'  wipe  his  face  wid 
his  hankcher. 

"  Brer  Fox,  he  come  on  whar  Brer  Rabbit  wuz 
a-settin'  at,  an'  ax  ef  it 's  corn  er  wheat.  Brer 
Rabbit  'low  dat  tain't  na'er  one;  it  's  des  some 
stuff  dat  he  gwine  ter  sell  ter  de  miller.  Brer  Fox, 
he  want  ter  know  what  'tis  so  bad  he  ain't  know 
what  ter  do,  an'  he  up  an'  ax  Brer  Rabbit  p'int- 
edly.  Brer  Rabbit  say  he  fear'd  ter  tell  'im  kaze 


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BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  THE  CHICKENS  83 

de  truck  what  he  got  in  de  bag  is  de  onliest  way 
he  kin  make  big  money.  Brer  Fox  vow  he  won't 
tell  nobody,  an'  den  Brer  Rabbit  say  dat  bein* 
ez  him  an"  Brer  Fox  is  sech  good  Men's  — 
neighbors,  ez  you  might  say  —  he  don't  min 
tellin'  'im,  kaze  he  know  dat  atter  Brer  Fox  done 
prommus,  he  won't  breave  a  word  'bout  it.  Den 
he  say  dat  de  truck  what  he  got  in  de  bag  is  roots 
er  de  Winniannimus  grass,  an*  when  dey  er  groun' 
up  at  de  mill,  dey  er  wuff  nine  dollars  a  poun*. 

"  Dis  make  Brer  Fox  open  his  eyes.  He  felt  de 
heft  er  de  bag,  he  did,  an'  he  say  dat  it 's  mighty 
light,  an'  he  dunner  what  make  Brer  Rabbit  pant 
an'  grunt  when  'tain't  no  heftier  dan  what  it  is. 

"  Brer  Rabbit  'low  dat  de  bag  wouldn't  'a'  felt 
heavy  ter  him  ef  he  wuz  big  an'  strong  like  Brer 
Fox.  Dat  kinder  talk  make  Brer  Fox  feel  biggity^ 
an'  he  'low  dat  he'll  tote  de  bag  ter  mill  ef  Brer 
Rabbit  feel  like  it 's  too  heavy.  Brer  Rabbit  say 
he  '11  be  mighty  much  erbleeged,  an'  be  glad  fer 
ter  pay  Brer  Fox  sump'n  ter  boot.  An'  so,  off  dey 
put  down  de  road,  Brer  Fox  a-trottin*  an'  Bre? 
Rabbit  gwine  in  a  canter. 


84  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

"  Brer  Fox  ax  what  dey  does  wid  de  Winnian- 
nimus  grass  atter  dey  gits  it  groun'  up  at  de  mill. 
Brer  Rabbit  'low  dat  rich  folks  buvs  it  fer  tef 
make  Wliipmewhopme  puddin'.  Brer  Fox  say 
lie  '11  take  some  home  when  de  miller  git  it  groun* 
an'  see  how  it  tas'es,  an'  Brer  Rabbit  say  he 's  mo' 
dan  welcome.  Atter  dey  been  gwine  on  some 
little  time,  Brer  Rabbit  look  back  an*  see  Mr. 
Man  a-comin',  an*  he  say  ter  Brer  Fox,  sezee, 
*  Brer  Fox,  you  is  de  outdoinist  man  I  ever  is  see. 
You  done  got  me  plum  wo'  out,  an'  I  'm  bleeze 
ter  take  a  res'.  You  go  on  an'  I  '11  ketch  up  wid 
you  ef  I  kin ;  ef  not,  des  wait  fer  me  at  de  mill.* 
Brer  Fox  'low,  *  Shucks,  Brer  Rabbit!  you 
ain't  'quainted  wid  me;  you  dunner  nothin'  'tall 
'bout  me.  I  kin  go  on  dis  away  all  day  long  an' 
half  de  night.'  Brer  Rabbit  roll  his  big  eyes,  an* 
say,  'Well,  suh!s 

"An'  den  he  sot  down  by  de  side  er  de  road,  an* 
8twuz  all  he  kin  do  fer  ter  keep  fum  bustin'  out  in 
a  big  laugh. 

'*  Bimeby,  Mr.  Man  come  'long  an'  say,  *  Who 
dat  wid  de  big  bag  on  his  back?'  Brer  Rabbit 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  THE  CHICKENS  U 

make  answer  dat  it 's  Brer  Fox.  Mr.  Man  says 
*What  he  got  in  his  bag?'  Brer  Rabbit  'low,  *I 
ax  'im,  an*  he  say  it  s'  some  kinder  grass  what  he 
takin'  ter  de  mill  fer  ter  git  groun',  but  I  seed  mo' 
dan  one  chicken  feather  stickin'  ter  de  bag. '  Mr, 
Man  say,  '  Den  he  's  de  chap  what  tuck  an*  tuck 
my  fat  hens  an'  my  slick  pullets,  an'  I  '11  make 
'im  sorry  dat  he  yever  is  see  a  chicken.' 

"  Wid  dat  he  put  out  atter  Brer  Fox,  an'  Brer 
Rabbit,  he  put  out  too,  but  he  stay  in  de  bushes, 
so  dat  nobody  can't  see  'im.  Mr.  Man  he  cotch 
up  wid  Brer  Fox,  an'  ax  'im  what  he  got  in  de 
bag.  Brer  Fox  say  he  got  Winniannimus  grass 
what  he  gwineter  have  groun'  at  de  mill.  Mr, 
Man  say  he  wanter  see  what  Winniannimus  grass 
look  like.  Brer  Fox  sot  de  bag  down  an'  say  dat 
when  it 's  groun'  up  de  rich  folks  buys  it  fer  ter 
make  Whipmewhopme  puddin'.  Mr.  Man  open 
de  bag,  an'  dey  wa'  n't  nothin'  in  it  but  chicken 
feathers.  He  'low,  *  Whipmewhopme  puddin'! 
I  '11  whip  you  an'  whop  you,'  an'  wid  dat  he  grab 
Brer  Fox  in  de  collar,  an'  mighty  nigh  frailed  de 
life  out'n  'im. 


M  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

"  Brer  Rabbit  seed  it  well  done,  an*  he  des  fell 
down  in  de  bushes  an*  roll  an*  laugh  twel  he  can't 
laugh  no  mo'." 

;f  Well,  I  don't  see  why  he  should  think  it  was 
funny,'*  the  little  boy  remarked. 

Uncle  Remus  looked  hard  at  this  modern  little 
boy  before  he  answered : "  Maybe  you  dunno  Bre? 
Fox,  honey;  I  don't  speck  you  hear  talk  er  de  way 
he  try  ter  git  de  inturn  on  Brer  Rabbit  But  on 
top  er  dat,  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  so  ticklish  dat  mos' 
anything  would  make  'im  laugh.  It  sholy  wus 
scan'lous  de  way  Brer  Rabbit  kin  laugh.  ** 


LTTTlrE    MISTER    CRICKET    AND    THE    OTHEB 

CREATURES 

UNCLE  REMUS  was  very  anxious  to 
know  what  the  child  thought  about 
the  story  of  Brother  Rabbit  and  the 
chicken  feathers,  but  he  made  no  inquiries;  he 
was  willing  to  let  the  youngster's  preferences 
show  themselves  without  any  urging  on  his  part, 
When  the  little  boy  did  speak,  he  made  no  ref » 
erence  to  Brother  Rabbit  and  the  chicken  feath- 
ers: his  thoughts  were  elsewhere,  "Uncle  Re- 
mus, "  he  said,  "  I  never  saw  a  cricket.  What  do 
they  look  like  ?** 

"You  ain't  never  see  no  cricket!"  exclaimed 
Uncle  Remus,  with  a  great  display  of  amaze- 
ment, "Well,  dat  bangs  my  time!  What  yo'  ma 
an'  pa  —  speshually  yo'  pa  —  what  dey  been 

doin:  all  deze  lonesome  years  dat  they  ain't  neveff 

87 


88  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

show'd  you  no  cricket?  How  dey  speck  you  ter 
git  'long  in  de  worl'  ef  dey  ain't  gwine  ter  tell  yov 
'bout  de  things  you  oughter  know,  an'  show  yotf 
de  things  dat  you  oughter  see  ?  You  ain't  never 
see  no  cricket,  an*  here  you  is  mos'  ready  tei 
shave  off  de  down  on  your  face!'" 

The  child  blushed.  "  Why,  I  have  no  down  on 
my  face,  Uncle  Remus,"  he  protested. 

"Well,  you  will  have  some  er  deze  days,  an" 
den  what  will  folks  think  uv  a  great  big  man 
what  ain't  never  seed  no  cricket  ?" 

"  Mother  has  never  seen  one,"  replied  the  little 
boy,  somewhat  triumphantly. 

"She  's  a  lady,"  Uncle  Remus  explained,  "an' 
dat's  diffunt.  She  been  brung  up  in  'Lantama'an- 
tarum,  an*  I  speck  she'  d  fall  down  an*  faint  ef 
she  wuz  ter  see  one.  Folks  ain't  like  dey  use  ter 
be;  in  my  day  an'  time,  ef  man  er  boy  wuz  ter  say 
dat  he  ain't  never  seed  no  cricket,  dem  what  he 
tol'  de  news  ter  would  git  up  an'  go  'way  fum  'im; 
but  deze  days  I  boun'  you  dey  'd  huddle  up  close 
*roun'  'im,  an*  j'ine  in  wid  'im,  an*  say  dey  ain't 
never  is  seed  one  nudder. " 


LITTLE  MISTER  CRICKET  89 

"  If  you  had  never  seen  one,  you  would  n't  talk 

that  way,  Uncle  Remus,"  remarked  the  little  boy 

quite  seriously.  "  How  can  I  help  myself,  if  I  have 

never  seen  one  ?  It  is  n't  my  fault,  is  it  ?" 

"Tooby  sho'  it  ain't,  honey.  Nobody  ain't 
blamin'  you.  Yit  when  I  see  a  great  big  boy  what 
ain't  never  seed  no  cricket,  I  bleeze  ter  ax  myse'f 
whar  he  come  fum  an*  what  he  been  doin*.  I 
boun'  ef  you  "d  'a'  been  wid  yo'  gran'mammy  an 
me  you  'd  'a'  seed  crickets  twel  you  got  tired  er 
seein'  um.  Dat  's  de  kinder  folks  we-all  is. 
'T  ain't  no  trouble  ter  we-all  ter  show  chillun 
what  dey  oughter  see.  I  bet  you,  you*  pa  know'd 
what  a  cricket  wuz  long  'fo'  he  wuz  oP  ez  you  is. 
Dey  wa'  n't  nothin'  fer  ter  hender  'im.  Miss  Sally 
des  turned  'im  over  ter  me,  an'  say,  *  Don't  let  'im 
git  hurted,*  an'  dar  he  wuz.  Ef  he  ain't  seed  all 
dey  wuz  ter  be  seed,  it  'uz  kaze  it  *uz  in  a  show, 
an'  de  show  in  town  whar  he  can't  git  at  it.  Dat 's 
de  way  we  done  wid  him,  an'  dat 's  de  way  I  *d 
like  ter  do  wid  you.  It 's  a  mighty  pity  you  wa'  n't 
brung  up  here  at  home,  stidder  up  dar  in  *Lan- 
tamatantarum,  whar  dey  ain't  nothin*  'tall  but 


SO  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

dust,  an*  mud,  an'  money.  De  folks  up  dar  ain?i 
want  de  mud  an'  dust,  an'  de  mo'  dey  wash  it  off 
de  mo'  dey  gits  on  um;  but  dey  does  want  de 
money,  an'  de  mo'  dey  scuffles  fer  it,  de  mo*  dey 
"'has  ter  scuffle. " 

"Is  a  cricket  like  a  grasshopper,  Uncle  Re- 
mus?" inquired  the  little  boy,  who  took  no  in- 
terest in  the  old  man's  prejudice  against  Atlanta. 

"  Dey  mos'ly  is,  an'  den  ag'in  dey  mos'ly  ain't. 
Befo'  de  time  dat  ol'  Grandaddy  Cricket  kick 
down  de  chimbley,  dey  wa*  n't  no  mo*  like  grass- 
hoppers dan  I  'm  like  a  steer,  but  atter  dat,  when 
he  git  his  knees  on  wrongsudouterds,  dey  sorter 
look  like  grasshoppers  *cepins  when  you  look  at 
'um  right  close,  an'  den  dey  don't  look  like  um. 

"  Dey  got  lots  mo*  sense  dan  de  yuther  crawlin' 
an1  hoppm*  creeturs.  Dey  ought  not  ter  be  put 
wid  de  hoppin'  creeturs,  kaze  dey  don't  b'long 
wid  'um,  an*  dey  would  n't  be  a-hoppm*  in  deze 
days  ef  ol'  Grandaddy  Cricket  had  n't  'a9  got 
cripple*  when  he  kick  de  chimbley  down.  In  de 
times  when  ol'  Boss  Elephant,  an'  Brer  Lion,  an' 
Brer  Tiger  wuz  meanderin*  roun1  in  deze  parts* 


LITTLE  MISTER  CRICKET  91 

little  Mr.  Cricket  wuz  on  mighty  good  terms  wid 
um.  Ez  dey  say  er  folks,  lie  stood  mighty  well 
whar  dey  know'd  'im  —  mighty  well  —  an5  he 
wuz  'bout  de  sharpes'  er  de  whole  caboodle,  ef 
you  '11  leave  out  de  name  er  Brer  Rabbit. 

"It  come  'bout  one  time  dat  de  creeturs  wuz 
all  sunnin'  deyse'f  —  it  mought  er  been  Sunday 
fer  all  I  know  —  an'  dey  des  stretch  out  an'  sot 
an'  sot  roun'  lickin'  der  chops,  an'  blinkin'  der 
eyes,  an'  combin'  der  ha'r.  Mr.  Elephant  wuz 
swingin'  hisse'f  backerds  an*  forerds,  an'  flingin* 
de  san'  on  his  back  fer  ter  keep  off  de  flies,  an* 
all  de  res'  wuz  gwine  on  'cordin'  ter  der  breed 
an'  need. 

"  Ef  you  '11  watch  right  close,  honey,  you'll 
fin'  out  fer  yo'se'f  dat  when  folks  ain't  got  much 
ter  do,  an'  little  er  nothin'  fer  ter  talk  'bout,  dey  '11 
soon  git  ter  braggin',  an'  dat 's  des  de  way  wid  de 
creeturs.  Brer  Fox  start  it  up;  he  say, '  Gents,  'fo* 
I  fergit  it  off  'n  my  min',  I  wanter  tell  you  dat  I  'ra 
de  swiffes'  one  in  dis  bunch. '  Mr.  Elephant  wink 
one  er  his  little  eyeballs,  an'  fling  his  snout  in  de 
a'r  an*  whispered  —  an'  you  mought  'a'  hearn 


92  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

dat  whisper  a  mile —  'I'm  de  strenkiest;  I 
wanter  call  yo'  'tention  ter  dat. '  Mr.  Lion  shuck 
his  mane  an'  showed  his  tushes.  He  say,  'Don't 
fergit  dat  I  'm  de  King  er  all  de  creetur  tribe.9 
Mr.  Tiger  stretched  hisse'f  an'  gap'd.  He  say, 
'I'mde  purtiest  an'  de  mos'  servigrous. ' 

"Fum  one  ter  de  yuther  de  braggin'  went 
roun\  Ef  'twant  dis  it  uz  dat,  an'  ef  'twant 
dat,  'twuz  de  yuther.  Dey  went  on  so  twel  bimeby 
little  Mr.  Cricket  chirped  up  an*  say  he  kin  make 
all  un  um  run  dey  heads  off,  fum  oP  Mr. Elephant 
down  ter  de  las'  one.  Dey  all  laugh  like  it  's  a 
good  joke,  an'  Brer  Fox  he  'low  dat  he  had  de 
idee  dat  dey  wuz  all  doin'  some  monstus  tall 
braggin',  but  Mr.  Cricket  wuz  away  ahead  er  de 
whole  gang,  an'  den  he  say,  'How  you  gwinter 
begin  fer  ter  commence  fer  ter  do  all  deze  great 
deeds  an'  didoes?'  Mr.  Cricket  say,'Des  gi'  me 
time;  gi'  me  time,  an'  yo  '11  all  hear  fum  me  — 
you  '11  hear,  but  you  won't  stop  fer  ter  lis'n',  an* 
den  he  work  his  jaws  fer  all  de  worl'  like  Brer 
Rabbit  does  when  he  's  chawin'  terbacker. 

"Now,    ol'    Brer    Rabbit    know'd    dat    Mr. 


LITTLE  MISTER  CRICKET  93 

Cricket  wuz  up  ter  some  sharp  trick  er  n'er,  an* 
so  he  wait  twel  he  kin  have  a  confab  wid  'im.  He 
ain't  had  long  ter  wait,  kaze  Mr*  Crickley 
Cricket  make  up  his  min'  dat  Brer  Rabbit  wuz 
de  one  what  kin  he'p  him  out.  Dey  bofe  wanter 
see  one  an'er,  an*  when  dat  *s  de  case,  day  aii?^ 
much  trouble  'bout  it.  Dey  soon  got  off  by  dey- 
se'f,  an'  Brer  Rabbit  'low  dat  Mr.  Cricket  got  a 
mighty  big  job  on  his  han's,  an*  Mr.  Cricket,  he 
say  it 's  sech  a  big  job  dat  he  can't  git  thoo  wid  it 
less'n  Brer  Rabbit  will  he'p  'im  out.  Mr.  Cricket 
say  't  ain't  much  he  gwine  ter  ax  er  Brer  Rabbit, 
but  little  ez  'tis,  he  bleeze  ter  ax  it.  Brer  Rabbit 
look  at  'im  right  hard  an'  twis'  his  mustache. 
Out  wid  it,  Mr.  Cricket;  out  wid  it,  an*  I  '11  see  ef 
1  kin  he'p  you  out.  But  I  want  you  ter  take  notice 
dat  all  de  yuthers  is  got  a  crow  fer  ter  pick  wid 
me,  on  account  er  de  way  I  been  doin'.' 

Mr.  Cricket  chirp  up,  '  So  I  hear,  Brer  Rabbit 
—  so  I  hear,'  an'  den  he  went  on  fer  ter  tell  Brer 
Rabbit  what  he  want  'im  ter  do.  Brer  Rabbit 
laugh,  he  did,  an'  say,  'Ef  dat 's  all  you  want,  Mr 
Cricket,  you  kin  count  me  in,  kaze  I  laid  off  fex 


94  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

ter  he'p  you  lot's  mo'  dan  dat  —  lots  moV  Mr. 
Cricket  say  dat  '11  be  de  greates'  plenty,  an'  wid 
dat  dey  went  off  home  fer  ter  kinder  res'  deyse'f , 
but  not  'fo'  dey  fix  on  a  day  when  dey  '11  have 
time  fer  ter  work  der  trick  on  de  yuther  creeturs. 

"Dey  'greed  on  de  day,  an'  dat  day  dey  met, 
an'  atter  colloguin'  tergedder,  off  dey  put  ter  de 
place  whar  dey  'spected  ter  fin'  de  yuther  cree- 
turs.  De  fust  one  dey  meet  wuz  ol'  Mr.  Elephant, 
Dey  pass  de  time  er  day,  dey  did,  an'  Brer  Ptabbit 
say  he  got  bad  news.  Mr.  Elephant  flung  up  his 
snout  like  he  'stonish'd,  an'  swung  backerd  an* 
forerds  like  he  'bout  ter  cry.  Brer  Rabbit  'low  dat 
de  win'  blow'd  a  hick'y-nut  down  right  'pon  top 
er  Mr.  Cricket  an'  cripple  'im  so  he  can't  go 
home,  an'  he  ax  ef  Mr.  Elephant  won't  tote  'im  ez 
fur  ez  he  kin.  Mr.  Elephant  say  tooby  sho'  he  will, 
an'  be  glad  in  de  bargain,  an'  so  he  kneel  down, 
he  did,  an'  let  Mr.  Cricket  crawl  on  his  back. 

"But  Mr.  Cricket  crawl  furder  dan  de  back; 
he  crawl  on  Mr.  Elephant  neck,  an'  den  inter  his 
y'ear.  Dis  whar  he  wanter  git,  an'  soon  ez  he  got 
settle,  he  flutter  his  wings  right  fas'  an'  Mr.  Ele* 


LITTLE  MISTER  CRICKET  9B 

phant  think  de  win'  is  blowin'  thoo  de  trees.  Mr. 
Cricket  flutter  his  wings  harder,  an'  Mr.  Ele- 
phant think  dey  's  a  storm  comin'  up.  He  splunge 
thoo  de  bushes,  he  did,  an'  ef  Mr.  Cricket  had  n't 
'a'  been  inside  his  year,  he  'd  'a'  been  knocked 
off  by  de  lim's  er  de  trees.  Ez  'twuz,  he  sot  back 
an'  laugh,  an'  say  ter  hisse'f  dat  Mr.  Elephant 
ain't  hear  nothin'  'tall  ter  what  he  will  hear. 

"Wid  dat,  he  chune  up  his  whistle,  an'  started 
fer  ter  blow  on  it.  He  blow'd  kinder  low  ter  begin 
wid,  an'  den  he  'gun  ter  git  louder.  An'  de  louder 
he  got  de  mo'  he  skeer'd  Mr.  Elephant,  an*  he 
went  splungin'  thoo  de  woods  same  ez  a  harry- 
cane.  He  went  so  fas'  dat  he  come  mighty  nigh 
runnin'  over  King  Lion  whiles  he  wuz  talkin'  ter 
ol'  Brer  Tiger.  He  ain't  hear  'urn  say,  'Mr. 
El?phant,  whar  you  gwine  ?'  but  he  stop  right 
whar  dey  wuz  an'  'gun  ter  turn  roun'  an'  roun'> 
King  Lion  ax  'im  what  de  matter,  an'  Mr.  Ele- 
phant say  he  b'lieve  he  gwine  ravin'  'stracted.  He 
'low,  '  I  got  a  singin'  an'  a  whistlin'  in  one  er  my 
years,  an'  I  dunner  which  un  it 's  in.  Don't  you* 
ail  hear  it?' 


96  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

"Dey  lis'n,  dey  did,  an'  bless  gracious,  dey  kin 
hear  it.  Ol'  King  Lion  look  like  he  'stonished.  He 
say,  'It  soun's  fer  all  de  worl',  Mr.  Elephant,  like 
you  des  'bout  ter  bile  over,  an'  ef  dat  's  what  yer 
gwine  ter  do,  I  wanter  be  out  'n  de  way  —  clean 
out  'n  de  way.' 

"Mr.  Elephant  turn  roun'  an'  roun',  he  did, 
an*  ef  he  'd  'a'  been  light-headed  like  some  folks 
I  knows,  he  'd  'a'  drapt  right  dar.  Mr.  Cricket 
watch  his  chance,  an'  when  Mr.  Elephant  got 
nigh  ter  King  Lion,  he  tuck  a  flyin'  jump  an'  lit 
right  in  King  Lion's  mane,  an'  'twant  long  fo' 
he  made  his  way  ter  de  year.  But  while  he  wuz 
makin'  his  way  dar  Mr.  Elephant  stopped  whirl- 
in'  roun';  he  stop  an'  lis'n,  he  did,  an'  he  ain't 
hear  nothin';  he  lis'n  some  mo'  an'  still  he  ain't 
hear  nothin'.  He  say,  '1  b'lieve  in  my  soul  dat 
I  'm  kyo'd!  I  'm  mighty  glad  I  met  you-all,  kaze 
I  know  one  un  you  is  a  doctor,  an'  ever  which  un 
it  is,  he  sho'  has  done  de  work.' 

"By  dis  time,  Mr.  Cricket  had  got  in  King 
Lion  year,  an'  'twant  long  'fo'  he  start  up  his 
whistlin'.  He  whistle  low  fer  ter  start  wid,  an' 


LITTLE  MISTER  CRICKET  97 

King  Lion  hoi'  his  head  sideways  an'  lis'n.  He 
say,  '  I  still  hears  it,  Mr.  Elephant,  an'  ef  youer 
kyo'd  I  done  cotch  de  thing  you  had.'  Mr.  Crick- 
et went  a  little  louder,  an'  King  Lion  'gun  ter 
back  off  like  he  had  business  ter  ten'  ter.  Mr, 
Tiger  say,  '  Whar  you  gwine  ?  I  hope  you  ain't 
skeer'd  er  Brer  Elephant,  kaze  he  ain't  gwineter 
hurt  you.  Ef  you  gwine  any  whar,  you  better  turn 
'roun'  an'  go  right.' 

"But  King  Lion  ain't  pay  no  'tention  ter  Mr. 
Tiger;  he  des  back  off,  he  did,  an'  wave  his  tail 
an'  shake  his  mane.  Mr.  Cricket  'gun  ter  whistle 
louder  an'  flutter  his  wings,  an'  make  um  zoon 
like  a  locus'.  King  Lion  say,  'I  hear  de  win'  a~ 
blowin'  an'  I  better  git  home  ter  my  wife  an* 
chillun,'  an'  off  he  put,  runnin'  like  he  wuz 
gwine  atter  de  doctor.  Mr.  Tiger  laugh,  an'  say 
dat  some  folks  is  so  funny  he  dunner  what  ter 
make  un  um.  Dey  stayed  dar  confabbin',  an' 
bimeby  dey  hear  a  fuss,  an'  here  come  King  Lion 
gwine  ez  hard  ez  he  kin.  Tryin'  fer  ter  git  away 
fum  de  fuss  in  his  year  he,  had  run  all  roun'  twel 
he  come  back  ag'in  ter  whar  he  start  fum.  He 


98  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

had  his  tongue  out,  an'  his  tail  wuz  droopin';  he 
wuz  mighty  nigh  wo'  out. 

"He  say,  'Heyo!  what  you-all  doin'  here?  I 
had  de  idee  dat  I  lef'  you  back  yander  whar  1/ 
come  fum.'  Mr.  Elephant  'low,  *  We  ain't  skacely 
move  out  'n  our  tracks.  You  run  away  an'  lef  us, 
an'  here  you  is  back;  what  de  name  er  goodness 
is  de  matter  wid  you?'  King  Lion  say,  'I  done 
got  a  whistlin'  in  my  head,  an'  look  like  I  can't 
9scape  fum  it.  It  9s  in  dar  yit,  an'  I  dunner  what 
I  'm  gwine  ter  do  'bout  it.'  Mr.  Elephant  say, 
*Do  like  I  done  —  stan'  it  de  bes'  you  kin.'  Brer 
Tiger  'low, '  I  hear  it,  an'  it  soun'  zactly  like  you 
wuz  'bout  ter  bile  over,  an'  when  you  does  I 
wanter  be  out  'n  de  way.' 

"  By  dat  time  little  Mr.  Cricket  had  done  made 
a  flyin'  jump  an'  lit  on  Mr.  Tiger,  an*  'twant 
long  'fo'  he  wuz  snug  in  Mr.  Tiger  year.  Mr. 
Tiger  lis'n,  he  did,  an'  den  he  'gun  ter  back  off 
an'  wave  his  tail.  Mr.  Elephant  swing  his  snout, 
an'  say, '  What  de  matter,  Mr.  Tiger  ?  I  hope  you 
ain't  thinkin'  'bout  leavin'  us.'  But  Mr.  Tiger 
wuz  done  gone.  He  des  flit  away.  Long  'bout  dat 


LITTLE  MISTER  CRICKET  S8 

time,  Mr.  Rabbit  come  lopin'  up,  laughin'  fit  ter 
kill.  He  'low,  *  Brer  Cricket  say  he  gwine  ter  make 
you-all  run  an'  dat  's  des  what  he  done.  Bofe  un 
you  been  runnin'  kaze  I  see  you  pantin',  an'  ef 
you  '11  des  wait  here,  Mr.  Cricket  will  fetch  Mr. 
Tiger  back  safe  an'  soun','  an'  dey  ain't  had  ter 
wait  long,  nudder,  kaze  bimeby,  here  come  Mr. 
Tiger,  tongue  out  an'  tail  a-droopin'.  He  says 
*  Hello!  how  come  you-all  ter  outrun  me?  I  got 
de  idee  dat  you  wuz  back  yander  in  de  woods 
whar  I  come  fum,'  an'  den  dey  got  ter  laughin' 
at  'im,  an'  dey  laugh  twel  dey  can't  laugh  no  mo'c 
Mr.  Cricket  jump  outer  Mr.  Tiger's  year,  an'  git 
in  de  grass,  an'  bimeby  he  show  hisse'f. 

"  He  come  close  up  wid  a  *  Howdy  do,  gents  ?s 
an'  dey  pass  de  time  day  wid  'im.  Bimeby  Mr. 
Elephant  'low,  'Mr.  Cricket,  ain't  you  say  de 
yuther  day  dat  you  wuz  gwineter  make  we-all 
run ?'  an'  Mr.  Cricket,  he  make  answer,  'Why,  I 
would  n't  talk  'bout  runnin'  ef  I  'd  been  runnin' 
same  ez  what  you  been  doin'.'  Mr.  Elephant 
swing  his  snout  kinder  slow  an'  say,  'How  you 
know  I  been  runnin'  ?'  Mr.  Cricket  'low,  T  know 


100  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

bekaze  ef  I  had  n't  er  helt  on  monstus  tight, 
I  'd  'a'  fell  off;  mo'  dan  dat,  ef  I  had  n't  er  stop- 
ped singin'  an'  whistlin'  you  'd  'a'  been  runnin' 
yit.'  Mr.  Elephant  shot  his  two  little  eyes,  an' 
say, 'Well,  suh!'" 

"What  did  the  others  do?"  the  little  boy  in- 
quired, when  he  was  sure  that  the  story  was 
ended. 

"Dey  mos'ly  got  'way  fum  dem  parts,  kaze 
dey  wuz  skeer'd  Mr.  Cricket  would  git  on  um 
ag'in.  King  Lion  say  he  got  ter  look  atter  some 
fresh  meat  what  he  got,  Mr.  Elephant  say  he 
bleeze  ter  go  an'  cut  some  grass,  an'  Mr.  Tiger 
low  dat  he  got  ter  hunt  up  some  vittles  fer  his 
fambly.  An'  ez  fer  Mr.  Cricket,  he  clomb  on  Brer 
Rabbit's  back,  an'  dey  mosied  off  somers,  I  dun- 
ner  whar.  All  I  know  is  dat  dey  giggly  ez  dey 


VI 

WHEN    BROTHER   RABBIT   WAS   KING 

ONE  afternoon,  while  Uncle  Remus  was 
sitting  in  the  sun,  he  felt  so  comfortable 
and  thankful  for  all  the  blessings  that 
he  enjoyed,  and  for  those  that  he  had  seen  others 
enjoy,  that  he  suddenly  closed  his  eyes;  and  he 
had  no  sooner  done  so  than  he  drifted  across  the 
dim  and  pleasant  borderland  that  lies  somewhere 
between  sleeping  and  waking.  He  must  have 
drifted  back  again  immediately,  for  it  seemed  that 
he  was  not  so  fast  asleep  that  he  was  unable  to  hear 
the  sound  of  stealthy  footsteps  somewhere  near 
him  Instantly  he  was  on  the  alert,  but  still  kept 
his  eyes  closed.  He  knew  at  once  that  the  little 
boy  was  trying  to  surprise  him.  The  lad  had  im- 
proved much  in  health  since  coming  to  the  plan- 
tation, and  with  the  growth  of  his  strength  had 

come  a  certain  degree  of  boisterousness  that  his 

101 


108  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

mother  thought  was  somewhat  unusual,  but 
which  his  grandmother  and  Uncle  Remus  knew 
was  the  natural  result  of  good  health. 

By  opening  one  eye  a  trifle,  Uncle  Remus 
could  watch  the  youngster,  who  was  creeping, 
Indian-like,  upon  him,  and  this  gave  the  old 
negro  an  immense  advantage,  for  just  as  the  little 
boy  was  about  to  jump  at  him,  Uncle  Remus 
straightened  himself  in  his  char-  and  uttered  a 
blood-curdling  yell  that  would  have  alarmed  a 
much  larger  and  older  person  than  the  lad.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  the  little  fellow  was  almost  par- 
alyzed with  fright,  and  for  a  moment  or  two  could 
hardly  get  his  breath. 

"Why,  what  in  the  world  is  the  matter  with 
you,  Uncle  Remus?'*  he  asked  as  soon  as  he 
could  speak. 

" Wuz  dat  you  comin'  'long  dar,  honey?"  said 
Uncle  Remus,  by  way  of  response.  "Well,  ef 
'twuz,  you  kin  des  go  up  dar  ter  de  big  house  an' 
tell  um  all  dat  you  saved  my  life,  kaze  dat  what 
you  done.  Dey  ain't  no  tellin'  what  would  'a' 
happen  ef  you  had  n't  'a'  come  creepin'  'long  an' 


WHEN  BROTHER  RABBIT*  WAS  KING  103 

woke  me  up,  kaze  whiles  I  wuz  dozin'  dar  I  wua 
on  a  train,  an'  de  bullgine  look  like  it  wuz  runnm* 
away.  'Twant  one  er  deze  yer  'commydatin' 
trains,  kaze  de  man  what  tuck  up  de  tickets  say.; 
he  wa'  n't  in  no  hurry  fer  ter  see  how  fur  any* 
body  gwine;  dey  wuz  all  boun'  fer  de  same  place, 
an'  when  dey  got  dar  dey  'd  know  it.  De  kyars 
wuz  lined  wid  caliker,  an'  de  brakeman  wuz 
made  out  'n  straw.  It  went  on,  it  did,  an'  de  bull* 
gine  run  faster  an'  faster  twel  it  run  so  fast  you 
could  n't  hear  it  toot  fer  brakes,  an'  des  'bout  de 
time  dat  eve'ything  wuz  a  gittin'  smashed  ups 
here  you  come  an'  wokened  me  —  an'  a  mighty 
good  thing,  kaze  ef  I  'd  'a'  stayed  on  dat  train* 
dey  would  n't  'a'  been  'nough  er  me  left  fer  de 
eongergation  ter  sing  a  song  over.  I  'm  mighty 
thankful  dat  dey  's  somebody  got  sense  'nough 
fer  ter  come  'long  an'  skeer  me  out  er  my 
troubles." 

This  statement  was  intended  to  change  the 
course  of  the  little  boy's  thoughts  —  to  cause  him 
to  forget  that  he  had  been  frightened  —  and  it 
was  quite  successful,  for  he  began  to  talk  about 


104  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

dreams  in  general,  telling  some  peculiar  ones  of 

his  own,  such  as  children  have. 

"Talkin'  'bout  dreams,"  remarked  Uncle  Re- 
mus, "it  put  me  in  min'  er  de  man  what  been 
sick  off  an'  on,  an'  he  hatter  be  mighty  keerful  ei 
his  eatin'.  One  night  he  had  a  dream.  It  seemed 
like  dat  somebody  come  'long  an'  gi'  him  a  great 
big  hunk  er  ol'  time  ginger-cake,  an'  it  smell  so 
sweet  an'  taste  so  good  dat  he  e't  'bout  a  poun\ 
He  wuz  eatin'  it  in  his  sleep,  but  de  dream  wuz 
so  natchal  dat  de  nex'  mornin'  dey  hatter  sen'  fer 
de  doctor,  an'  'twuz  e'en  'bout  all  dey  could  do 
fer  ter  pull  'im  thoo.  De  doctor  gun  'im  all  de 
truck  what  he  had  in  his  saddle-bags,  an'  'low 
dat  he  b'lieve  in  his  soul  he  'd  hatter  sen*  fer  mo', 
an'  den  atter  dat  he  tuck  an'  lay  down  de  law  ter 
de  man.  He  say  dat  whatsomever  else  he  mought 
do,  he  better  not  eat  no  ginger-cakes  in  his 
dreams,  kaze  de  next  un  'ud  be  sho'  fer  ter  take 
?im  off  spite  er  all  de  doctor  truck  in  de  roun* 
worlV 

Then  the  little  boy  told  of  a  dream  he  had  had. 
It  seems  that  he  had  slipped  into  the  pantry, 


WHEN  BROTHER  RABBIT  WAS  KING  lOff 

when  no  one  was  looking,  and  had  taken  a  piece 
of  apple-pie.  It  was  n't  stealing,  he  said,  for  he 
knew  that  if  he  asked  his  grandmother  for  a  piece 
she  would  have  given  it  to  him ;  but  he  didn't  want 
to  bother  her  while  she  was  talking  to  the  sewing- 
woman,  and  so  he  just  went  in  the  pantry  and  got 
it  for  himself.  Perhaps  he  took  a  larger  piece  than 
his  grandmother  would  have  given  him,  but  lie 
had  nothing  to  measure  it  by,  and  so  he  was  com- 
pelled to  guess  how  much  she  would  have  given 
him. 

"I  boun*  you  stretched  yo'  guesser,  honey/1 
said  Uncle  Remus  dryly. 

The  child  admitted  with  a  laugh  that  perhaps 
he  had,  and  he  was  very  sorry  of  it  afterwards,  for 
when  he  went  to  bed  he  dreamed  thafr  something 
scratched  at  his  door  and  made  such  a  fuss  that 
he  was  obliged  to  get  up  and  let  it  in.  He  did  n't 
Wait  to  see  what  it  was,  but  just  flung  the  door 
open,  and  ran  and  jumped  back  in  bed,  pulling 
the  cover  over  his  head.  In  the  dream  he  lay  right 
still  and  listened.  Everything  was  so  quiet  that  he 
became  curious,  and  finally  ventured  to  look  out 


108  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

from  under  the  cover,  Well,  sir,  the  sight  that  he 
gaw  was  enough,  for  between  the  door  and  the 
bed  a  big  black  dog  was  lying.  He  seemed  to  be 
very  tired,  for  his  tongue  hung  out  long  and  red, 
and  he  was  panting  as  though  he  had  come  a 
long  way  in  a  very  short  time. 

Uncle  Remus  groaned  in  sympathy.  The  black 
dog  that  gallops  through  a  dream  with  his  tongue 
hanging  out  was  one  of  his  familiars.  "I  know 
dat  dog,"  he  said,  "He  got  a  bunch  er  white  on 
de  een*  er  his  tail,  an*  his  eyeballs  look  like  dey 
green  in  de  dark.  You  call  him  an'  he  '11  growl; 
call  him  ag'in,  an'  he  '11  howl.  I  'd  know  dat  dog 
ef  I  wuz  ter  see  him  in  de  daytime  —  I  'd  know 
him  so  well  dat  I  'd  run'  an'  ax  somebody  fer  ter 
please,  suh,  wake  me  up,  an'  do  it  mighty 
quick. " 

The  little  boy  did  n't  know  anything  aboui 
that;  what  he  did  know  was  that  the  dog  in  his 
dream,  when  he  had  rested  himself,  jumped  up 
on  the  bed,  and  began  to  nose  at  the  cover,  and  he 
seemed  to  get  mad  when  he  failed  to  pull  it  off 
the  little  boy.  He  tried  and  tried,  and  then  he 


WHEN  BROTHER  RABBIT  WAS  KING  10* 

seized  a  corner  of  the  counterpane,  or  the  spread, 
or  whatever  you  call  it,  and  shook  it  with  his 
teeth.  When  he  grew  tired  of  this,  the  little  boy 
could  hear  him  smelling  all  about  over  the  bed, 
and  then  he  knew  the  creature  was  hunting  for 
the  piece  of  apple-pie. 

Uncle  Remus  agreed  with  the  child  about  this, 
s  'Cordin'  ter  my  notion,"  he  said,  "when  folks 
slip  'roun'  an'  take  dat  what  don't  b'long  ter  urn 
er  dat  what  dey  ought  n't  ter  have  by  good 
rights,  de  big  black  dog  is  sho'  ter  come  roun' 
growlin'  an*  smellin'  atter  dey  goes  ter  bed.  Dey 
ain't  no  two  ways  'bout  dat.  Dey  may  not  know 
it,  dey  may  be  too  sleepy  fer  ter  see  'im  in  der 
dreams,  but  de  dog's  dar.  Mo'  dan  dat,  dogs  will 
growl  an'  smell  roun'  ef  deyer  in  dreams  er  outer 
dreams.  Dey  got  in  de  habits  er  smellin*  'way 
back  yander  in  de  days  when  oP  Brer  Rabbit  had 
tooken  de  place  er  de  King  one  time  when  de 
King  wanter  go  off  down  de  country  fishin*. " 

The  little  boy  seemed  to  be  very  much  interested 
in  this  information,  but  while  they  were  speak- 
ing of  this  curious  habit  that  is  common  to  dogs, 


S08  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

a  hound  that  had  been  raised  on  the  place  came 
into  view.  He  was  going  at  a  gallop,  as  if  he  had 
important  business  to  attend  to,  but  when  he  had 
galloped  past  a  large  tree,  he  paused  suddenly, 
and  turned  back  to  investigate  it  with  his  nose; 
and  though  he  was  entirely  familiar  with  the  tree, 
it  seemed  to  be  new  to  him  now,  for  he  smelled 
all  around  the  trunk  of  it  and  was  apparently 
much  perplexed.  Whatever  information  he  re- 
ceived was  sufficient  to  cause  him  to  forget  all 
about  the  business  that  had  caused  him  to  come 
galloping  past  the  tree,  for  when  his  investiga- 
tion had  ended,  he  turned  about  and  went  back 
the  way  he  had  come. 

"Now,  you  see  dat,  don't  you?"  exclaimed 
Uncle  Remus,  with  some  show  of  indignation. 
"Ain't  it  des  a  little  mo'  dan  you  wanter  stan'  ? 
Here  he  come,  gwine,  I  dunner  whar,  des  a- 
gallin'-up  like  he  done  been  sent  fer.  He  come  ter 
dat  ar  tree,  he  did,  an'  went  on  by  —  spang  by! 
—  an'  den  'fo'  you  kin  bat  yo'  eyeball,  whiff,  he 
turn  roun*  an'  go  ter  smellin'  at  de  tree,  des  like 
he  ain't  never  seed  it  befo';  an'  he  must  'a'  got 


WHEN  BROTHER  RABBIT  WAS  KING  109 

some  kind  er  news  whar  he  smellin'  at,  kaze  atter 
he  smell  twel  it  look  like  he  gwineter  smell  de 
bark  clean  off,  he  fergit  all  'bout  whar  he  gwine* 
an'  tuck  his  tail  an'  go  on  back  whar  he  come 
fum.  Maybe  you  know  sump'n  'bout  it,  honey  — - 
you  an'  de  balance  er  de  white  folks,  but  me  — 
I'm  bofe  blin'  an'  deff  when  it  come  ter  tellin'  you 
what  de  dog  foun'  out.  I  may  know  what  make 
'im  smell  at  de  tree,  but  what  news  he  got  I  never 
is  ter  tell  you. " 

"  Well,  you  know  you  said  that  dogs  got  in  the 
habit  of  smelling  away  back  yonder  when  old 
Brother  Rabbit  took  the  place  of  the  King,  who 
had  gone  fishing.  I  was  wondering  if  that  was  a 
story. " 

"Wuz  you,  honey?'*  Uncle  Remus  asked  with 
a  pleased  smile.  "Well,  you  sho'  is  got  a  dump 
lin'  eye  fer  de  kinder  tales  what  I  tells.  I  b'lieve  ef 
1  wuz  ter  take  one  er  dem  oP-time  tales  an'  skin  it, 
an'  drag  de  hide  thoo  de  house  an*  roun'  de  lot  — 
cf  I  wuz  ter  do  dat,  I  b'lieve  you  *d  open  up  on  de. 
trail  same  ez  ol'  Louder  follerin'  on  atter  Brei 
Possum;  1  sho'  does!" 


110  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

The  child  seemed  to  appreciate  the  compliv 
merit,  and  he  laughed  in  a  way  that  did  the  old 
negro  a  world  of  good.  "I  have  found  out  one 
thing,'*  said  the  little  boy  with  emphasis.  "When- 
ever you  are  hintmg  at  a  story,  you  always  look 
at  me  out  of  the  corner  of  your  eye,  and  there  *s 
always  a  funny  little  wrinkle  at  the  corner  of  your 
mouth* " 

"Well,  suh!"  exclaimed  Uncle  Remus,  glee- 
fully; "well,  suh!  an*  me  a-settin"  right  here  an' 
doin*  dat  a-way  'fo*  yo*  face  an*  eyes!  1  never 
would  'a*  'speckted  it,  Peepin'  out  de  cornder  er 
my  eyeball,  an*  a-wrinklin3  at  de  mouf !  It  look 
like  I  mus'  be  gittin*  ol'  an*  fibble  in  de  min*.  " 
He  chuckled  as  proudly  as  if  some  one  had  given 
him  a  piece  of  pound-cake  of  which  he  was  very 
fond.  But  presently  his  chuckling  ceased,  and  he 
leaned  back  in  his  chair  with  a  serious  air. 

"I  dunno  so  mighty  well  'bout  all  de  yuther 
times  you  talkin'  'bout,  honey,  but  when  I  say 
what  I  did  'bout  ol'  Brer  Rabbit  takin'  de  place 
er  der  King,  I  sho?  had  a  tale  in  my  min*.  1  say 
tale,  but  I  dunner  what  you  '11  say  'bout  it;  you 


WHEN  BROTHER  RABBIT  WAS  KING  111 

kin  name  it  alter  you  git  it.  Well,  way  back  yan~ 
der,  mos'  'fo'  de  time  when  folks  got  in  de  habits 
er  dreamin'  dreams,  dey  wuz  a  King  an'  dish  yei 
King  kog'd  it  over  all  un  um  what  wuz  dar,  mo: 
speshually  de  creeturs,  kaze  what  folks  dey  wuz 
ain't  know  nothin'  'tall  'bout  whedder  dey  need 
any  kingin'  er  not;  look  like  dey  did  n't  count. 

"  Well,  dish  yer  King  what  I  'm  a-tellin'  you 
'bout  had  purty  well  grow'd  up  at  de  business, 
and  de  time  come  when  he  got  mighty  tired  er 
settin'  in  one  place  an'  hol'in'  a  crown  on  his 
head  fer  ter  keep  it  fum  f  allir/  on  de  fio'.  He  say 
ter  hisse'f  dat  he  wanter  git  out  an'  git  de  fresh 
a'r,  an'  have  some  fun  'long  wid  dem  what  he 
been  kingin'  over.  He  'low  dat  he  wanter  fix  it  so 
dat  he  ain't  a-keerin'  whedder  school  keep  er  no, 
an'  he  ax  um  all  what  de  best  thing  he  kin  do. 
Well,  one  say  one  thing  an'  de  yuther  say  t'  other> 
but  bimeby  some  un  um  chipped  in  an'  say  dat 
de  best  way  ter  have  fun  is  ter  go  fishin',  an'  dis 
kinder  hit  de  King  right  in  de  middle  er  his 
notions. 

"  He  jump  up  an'  crack  his  heels  tergedder,  he 


112  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

did,  air  he  say  dat  dat  's  what  he  been  thinkin" 
'bout  all  de  time.  A-fishin'  it  wuz  an'  a-fishin' 
he  'd  go,  ef  his  life  wuz  spar'd  twel  he  kin  git  ter 
de  creek.  An',  wid  dat,  dey  wuz  a  mighty  stirrin' 
roun'  'mongs'  dem  whal  he  wuz  a-kingin'  over; 
some  un  urn  run  off  fer  ter  git  fishin'-poles,  an* 
some  run  fer  ter  dig  bait,  an'  some  run  fer  ter  git 
£§;      ',)  de    bottle,    an* 

iR?  X&ger      dar  dey  had  it 


"  Some  run  fer  ter  dig  bait  " 

—  you  'd  'a'  thunk  dat  all  creation  wuz  £wine 
fishin'." 

"Uncle  Remus,"  said  the  little  boy,  interrupt- 


WHEN  BROTHER  RABBIT  WAS  KING  113 

ing  the  old  man,  "what  did  they  want  with  a 
bottle?" 

The  old  man  looked  at  the  child  with  a  puz- 
zled expression  on  his  face.  "De  bottle?"  he 
asked  with  a  sigh.  "I  b'lieve  I  did  say  sump'n 
'bout  de  bottle.  I  dunner  whedder  it  'uz  a  long 
white  bottle  er  a  chunky  black  un.  Dem  what 
handed  de  tale  down  ter  me  ain't  say  what 
kinder  one  it  wuz,  an'  I  'm  fear'd  ter  say  right 
short  off  dat  it  'uz  one  er  de  yuther.  We  '11  des 
call  it  a  plain,  eve'y-day  bottle  an'  let  it  go  at 
dat." 

"  But  what  did  they  want  with  a  bott*  Uncle 
Remus?"  persisted  the  little  boy. 

"You  ain't  never  been  fishin',  is  you  honey? 
An'  you  ain't  never  see  yo'  daddy  go  fishin'.  All 
I  know  is  dat  whar  dey  's  any  fishin'  gwine  on, 
you  '11  fin'  a  bottle  some'rs  in  de  neighborhoods 
ef  you  '11  scratch  about  in  de  bushes.  Well,  de 
creeturs  done  like  folks  long  'fo:  folks  got  ter 
doin'  dat  away,  an'  when  dish  yer  King  went 
a-fishin',  he  had  ter  have  a  bottle  fer  ter  put  de 
bait  in. 


114  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

"  When  eve 'y thing  got  good  an'  ready,  an'  de 
King  wuz  'bout  ter  start  off,  ol'  Brer  Rabbit 
kinder  hung  his  head  on  one  side  an'  set  up  a 
snigger-  De  Xing,  he  look  'stonish  an'  den  he 
'low,  'What 's  de  joke,  ol'  frien'?'  ' Well,'  sez  ol' 
Brer  Rabbit,  sezee,  'it  look  like  ter  me  dat  you 
'bout  ter  go  off  an'  fergit  sump'n.  'Tain't  none  er 
my  business,  but  I  could  n't  he'p  fum  gigglin'. ' 
De  King,  he  say,  'Up  an'  out  wid  it,  ol'  frien'; 
le's  hear  de  wust  dey  is  ter  hear.'  OP  Brer  Rab- 
bit, he  say,  sezee,  '  I  dunner  ef  it  makes  any  dif- 
funee,  but  who  gwine  ter  do  de  kingin'  whiles 
you  gone  a-flshin'  ? ' 

''  Well,  de  King  look  like  de  wuz  might'ly  tuck 
back;  he  flung  up  bofe  han's  an'  sot  right  flat  in  a 
cheer,  an'  den  he  'low,  '  I  done  got  so  dat  I'm  de 
fergittines'  creetur  what  live  on  top  er  de  groun'; 
you  may  hunt  high  an'  low  an'  you  won't  never 
fin'  dem  what  kin  beat  me  a-f  ergittin'.  Here  I  wuz, 
bout  fer  ter  go  off  an'  leave  de  whole  business  at 
sixes  an'  sev'ms.'  Ol'  Brer  Rabbit,  he  say,  sezee, 
*Oh,  I  speck  dat  would  'a'  been  all  right;  dey 
ain't  likely  ter  be  no  harrycane,  ner  no  fresh" 


"De  Klna   , 


sot  right  flat  in  a  clieer ' 


115 


116  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

whiles  you  gone.'  De  King,  he  'low,  'Dat  ain't 
de  thing;  here  I  wuz'  bout  ter  go  off  on  a  frolic  an' 
leave  eve 'y thing  fer  ter  look  atter  itse'f .  What  you 
reckon  folks  would  'a'  said  ?  I  tell  you  now,  dey 
ain't  no  fun  in  bein'  a  King,  kaze  yo'  time  ain't 
yo'  own,  an'  you  can't  turn  roun'  widout  skin- 

nin'  yo'  shins  on  some 

by-law  er  'nother.  'Fo'  I 

go,  ef  go  I  does,  I  got  ter 

'p'int  somebody  fer  ter 

take   my   place    an'    be 

King  whiles  I  'm  gone; 

an'  ef  'twant   dat,  it  'd 

be  sump'n'  else,  an'  so 

dar  you  go  year 

in  an'  year  out.' 

"  He    sot  dar, 

he    did,    an' 

study   an' 

study,   an' 

bimeby     h  e 

say,    sezee, 

1  Dey  ain't  no  fun  in  bein'  a  King  "  Brer      Rab- 


WHEN  BROTHER  RABBIT  WAS  KTNG  117 

bit,  s'posin'  you  take  my  place  whiles 
I'm  gone?  I'll 
pay  you  well;  all 
you  got  to  do  is 
ter  set  right 
flat  in  a  cheer 
an'  make  s 
dollar  a  day. 
Ol'  Brer 
Rabbi  t 
say  dat  would 
suit  him  mighty 
well,  kaze  he 
bleeze  fer  ter 
have  some  money  so  he  kin  buy  his  ol'  'oman 
a  caliker  dress.  Well,  it  ain't  take  um  long 
fer  ter  fix  it  all  up,  an'  so  Brer  Rabbit,  he  done 
de  kingin'  whiles  de  King  gone  a-fishin'.  He 
made  de  job  a  mighty  easy  one,  kaze  stidder  set- 
tin'  up  an'  hol'in'  de  crown  on  his  head,  he  tied 
some  strings  on  it  an'  fix  it  so  it  'd  stay  on  his 
head  widout  hol'in'. 

"  Well,  when  de  King  went  a-fishin',  he  went 


"When  de  King  went  a-fishin',  he  went  de 
back  way  " 


118  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

fie  back  way,  an'  he  ain't  mo'  dan  got  out  de  gate 
Iwel  ol'  Brer  Rabbit  hear  a  big  rumpus  in  de 
front  yard.  He  hear  sump'n'  growlin'  an'  howlin' 
an*  whinin',  an'  he  ax  what  it  wuz.  Some  er  dem 

wh&t  wait  on  de  King  shuck  der  heads  an'  say 
dat  ef  de  King  wuz  dar  he  would  n't  pay  no 

tention  ter  de  racket  f er  der  longest ;  dey  say  dat 
de  biggest  kind  er  fuss  ain't  'sturb  de  King,  kaze 
he  'd  des  set  right  flat  an'  wait  fer  some  un  ter 
come  tell  somebody  what  de  rumpus  is  'bout,  an' 
den  dat  yuther  somebody  would  tell  some  un  else, 
an'  maybe  'bout  dinner-time  de  King  would  fin' 
out  what  gwine  on,  when  all  he  hatter  do  wuz  ter 
look  out  de  winder  an'  see  fer  hisse'f . 

*4  When  ol'  Brer  Rabbit  hear  dat,    _j 
he  lay  back  ez  well  ez 


he    kin   wid    dat    ar 
crown  on  top  er  his 
head,  an'  make  out 
he  takin*   a  nap. 
Atter  so  long  a 
time,  word  come 


dat  Mr.  Dog  wuz 


Some  er  dem  what,  wait  on  de  King  shuck 
der  heads  " 


WHEN  BROTHER  RABBIT  WAS  KING  l*w 

out  dar  in  de  en» 
try  whar  dey  all 
hatter  wait  at, 
an'  he  son* 
word   dat   he 
bleeze  ter  see 
de  King.  Ol' 
Brer  Rabbit, 
he  sot  dar,  he 
did,    an*    do 
like  he  study- 
in',  an'  atteT 
so   long   a 

tma  da*  ar  crown  on  top  et   time,  he   tell 

um  fer  ter 
fetch  Mr.  Dog  in  an '  let  him  say  what  he  got  lei 
say.  Well,  Mr.  Dog  come  creepin*  in,  he  did,  an*  he 
took  mighty  'umble-come-tumble.  He  wuz  so  po* 
dat  it  look  like  you  can  *ee  eve'y  bone  in  his  body, 
an"  he  wuz  mangy  lookin  His  head  hung  down, 
an*  he  wuz  kinder  shiverm '  like  he  wuz  col\  Brer 
Rabbit  make  out  he  tryin  ter  ter  fix  de  crown  on 
*iis  head  so  it  '11  set  up  straight,  but  all  de  time  hd 


"He  lay  back 

his  heady  an'  make  -mt  >ie  taldn'  a  nap 


130  rOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

wuz  lookin*  at  Mr.  Dog  fer  ter  see  ef  he  know'd 
"im  ■ —  an'  sho'  'nough,  he  did,  kaze  it  'uz  de 
same  Mr.  Dog  what  done  give  him  many  a  long 
chase. 

"Well,  Mr.  Dog,  he  stood  dar  wid  his  head 
hangin'  down  an'  his  tail  'tween  his  legs.  Eve'y- 
thing  wuz  so  still  an5  solium  dat  he  'gun  ter  git 
oneasyt  an'  he  look  roun'  fer  ter  see  ef  dey  's  any 


*'  Wsll,  Mr.  Dog  come  creepin'  in ' 


WHEN  BROTHER  RABBIT  WAS  KTNG  121 

Way  fer  ter  git  out  widout  runnin'  over  somebody. 
Dey  ain't  no  way,  an*  so  Mr,  Dog  sorter  wiggle 
de  een'  er  his  tail  fer  ter  show  dat  he  ain't  mad, 
an'  he  stood  dar  'specktin'  dat  eve'y  minnit  would 
be  de  nex\ 

"  Bimeby,  somebody  say, '  Who  dat  wanter  see 
de  King  an'  what  business  is  he  got  wid  'im?' 
When  Mi\  Dog  hear  dat,  de  howl  dat  he  sot  up 
mought  'a'  been  heern  a  mile  er  mo*.  He  up  an* 
'low,  he  did,  dat  him  an'  all  his  tribe,  an'  mo* 
speshually  his  kinnery,  is  been  havin'  de  wuss 
times  dat  anybody  ever  is  hear  tell  un.  He  say  dat 
whar  dey  use  ter  git  meat,  dey  now  gits  bones,  an' 
mighty  few  er  dem,  an'  whar  dey  use  ter  be  fat, 
dey  now  has  ter  lean  up  ag'in  de  fence,  an'  lean 
mighty  hard,  ef  dey  wanter  make  a  shadder.  Mr. 
Dog  had  lots  mo'  ter  say,  but  de  long  an'  de 
short  un  it  wuz  dat  him  an'  his  kinnery  wa'  n't 
treated  right. 

"  OF  Brer  Rabbit,  which  he  playin'  King  fer 
de  day,  he  kinder  study,  an'  den  he  cle'r  up  his 
th'oat  an'  look  solium.  He  ax  ef  dey  's  any  tur* 
kentime  out  dar  in  de  back  yard  er  in  de  cellar 


122  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

whar  dey  keep  de  harness  grease,  an9  when  dey 
say  dey  speck  dey  *s  a  drap  er  two  lef ',  oP  Brer 
Rabbit  tell  urn  fer  ter  fetch  it  in,  an'  den  he  tell 
urn  ter  git  a  poun'  er  red  pepper  an'  mix  it  wid 
de  turkentime.  So  said,  so  done.  Dey  grab  Mr. 
Dog,  an'  rub  de  turkentime  an'  red  pepper  fruni 
head  ter  heel,  an*  when 


*"Dey  run  im  oufn  de  place  whar  de  kingin'  wuz  done-  ai% 


WHEN  BROTHER  RABBIT  WAS  KING  123 

he  holler  dey  run  'im  out'n  de  place  whar  de 
kingin'  wuz  done  at. 

"Well,  time  went  on,  an*  one  day  follered 
an'er  des  like  dey  does  now,  an'  Mr.  Dog  ain't 
never  gone  back  home,  whar  his  tribe  an'  his 
kinnery  wuz  waitin'  fer  'im.  Dey  wait,  an'  dey 
wait,  an'  bimeby  dey  'gun  ter  git  oneasy.  Den  dey 
wait  some  mo'  but  it  git  so  dey  can't  stan'  it  no 
ionger,  an'  den  a  whole  passel  un  um  went  ter  de 
house  whar  dey  do  de  kingin'  at,  an*  make  some 
inquirements  'bout  Mr.  Dog.  Dem  dat  live  at  de 
King's  house  up  an'  tell  um  dat  Mr.  Dog  done 
come  an'  gone.  Dey  say  he  got  what  he  come 
atter,  an'  ef  he  ain't  gone  back  home  dey  dunner 
whar  he  is.  Dey  tol'  'bout  de  po'  mouf  he  put  up, 
an'  dey  say  dat  dey  gun  'im  purty  well  all  dat  a 
gen'termun  dog  could  ax  fer. 

"De  yuther  dogs  say  dat  Mr.  Dog  ain't  never 
come  back  home,  an'  dem  what  live  at  de  King's 
house  say  dey  mighty  sorry  fer  ter  hear  sech  bad 
news,  an'  dey  tell  de  dogs  dat  dey  betier  hunt  'im 
up  an'  fin'  out  what  he  done  wid  dat  what  de 
King  gi'  'im.  De  dogs  ax  how  dey  gwineter  know 


ViA  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

*im  when  dey  fin'  him,  an  dem  at  de  King's  house 
say  dey  kin  tell  'im  by  de  smell,  kaze  dey  put 
some  turkentime  an'  red  pepper 
on  'im  fer  ter  kill  de 
fleas  an'  kyo 


*  A  whole  passel  un  um  went  ter  de  house  u-har  dey  do  tlie  hingin*  * 

de  bites.  Well,  sence  dat  day  de  yuther  dogs 
been  huntin'  fer  de  dog  what  went  ter  de 
King's  house;  an'  how  does  dey  hunt?  'Tain't 
oo  needs  fer  ter  tell  you,  honey,  kaze  you  know 


WHEN   BROTHER  RABBIT  WAS  KING  125 

pine-blank  ez  good  ez  I  kin  tell  you.  Sence 
dat  day  an'  hour  dey  been  smellin'  fer  'im. 
Dey  smells  on  de  groun'  fer  ter  see  ef  he  been 
'long  dar;  dey  smells  de  trees,  de  stumps,  an'  de 
bushes,  an'  when  dey  comes  up  wid  an'er  dog  dat 
dey  ain't  never  seed  befo',  dey  smells  him  good 
fer  ter  see  ef  he  got  any  red  pepper  an'  turken- 
time  on  'im;  an'  ef  you  '11  take  notice  dey  some- 
times smells  at  a  bush  er  a  stump,  an'  der  bristles 
will  rise,  an'  dey  '11  paw  de  groun'  wid  der  f o'  feet, 
an'  likewise  wid  der  behime  feet,  an'  growl  like 
deyer  mad.  When  dey  do  dat,  dey  er  tellin'  you 
what  dey  gwineter  do  when  dey  git  holt  er  dat  dog 
what  went  to  de  King's  house  an'  ain't  never 
come  back.  I  may  be  wrong,  but  I  '11  bet  you  a 
white  ally  ag'in'  a  big  long  piece  er  mince-pie  dat 
dey  '11  be  gwine  on  dat  away  when  you  git  ter  be 
ol'ezlis." 


vn 

HOW   OLD    CRANEY-OROW   LOST    HIS    BEAD 

NE  day,  while  Uncle  Remus  was  pre- 
paring some  wild  cherry  bark  for  a  de- 
coction which  he  took  for  his  rheu~ 
rnatisrn,  the  little  boy,  who  was  an  interested 
spectator  of  the  proceedings,  chanced  to  hear 
a  noise  overhead.  Looking  up,  he  saw  a  very 
large  bird  flying  over.  He  immediately  called  the 
attention  of  Uncle  Remus  to  the  bird,  which  was 
indeed  a  singular-looking  creature.  Its  long  neck 
stretched  out  in  front,  and  its  long  legs  streamed 
out  behind.  Its  wings  were  not  very  large,  and  it 
had  no  tail  to  speak  of,  but  it  flew  well  and  rap> 
idly,  apparently  anxious  to  reach  its  destination 
in  the  shortest  possible  time. 

Uncle  Remus  shaded  his  eyes  with  his  rigth, 
band  as  he  gazed  upward  at  the  bird.  "Laws~a 
mussy!"  he  exclaimed;  "  is  dey  anybody  yevei 

126 


HOW  OLD  CRANEY-CROW  LOST  HIS  HEAD 

see  de  beat  er  dat!"  He  knew  well  that  the  bird 
was  a  blue  hero*  going  to  join  its  kindred  in 
Florida,  but  he  alt  eted  great  surprise  at  sight  of 
the  bird,  and  continued  to  gaze  at  it  as  long  as 
it  remained  in  sight,  lie  drew  a  long  breath  when 
it  could  no  longer  be  seen,  and  shook  his  head 
sadly,  "Ef  she  ain't  got  no  mo'  sense  dan  what 
her  great-grandaddy  had,  I  ?m  mighty  sorry  fez 
her,"  he  declared. 

"What  kind  of  a  bird  is  it,  Uncle  Remus?'* 
the  child  inquired. 

"Folks  useter  call  um  Craney-Crows,  honey ? 
but  now  dey  ain't  got  no  name  but  des  plain  blue 
crane  —  an'  I  dunner  whedder  dey  er  wuff  sech  a 
big  name.  Yit  I  ain't  got  nothin'  ag'in  um  dat  1 
knows  un.  Mo'  dan  dat,  when  1  ermembers  'bout 
de  oF  grandaddy  crane  what  drifted  inter  deze 
parts,  many's  d3  long  time  ago,  'twould  n't  take 
much  f er  ter  make  me  feel  right  sorry  f er  de  whole 
kit  an'  bilin'  un  um  —  dey  er  sech  start  natchul 
fools." 

"But  what  is  there  to  be  sorry  about,  Un- 
J&e    Remus?"    the    little    boy    askecL    He    wa* 


128  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

rapidly  learning  to  ask  questions  at  the  propel 
time. 

"  'Bout  dey  havin'  sech  a  little  grain  er  sense, 
honey.  Ef  you  know'd  what  I  does,  I  dunner  ef 
you  'd  be  tickled,  er  ef  you  'd  feel  sorry,  an'  it 's 
de  same  way  wid  me.  When  I  think  er  dat  oF 
Great- Grandad dy  Crane,  I  dunner  whedder  ter 
laugh  er  cry." 

This  was  small  satisfaction  to  the  little  boy, 
and  he  was  compelled  to  inquire  about  it.  As  this 
was  precisely  what  the  old  negro  wanted  him  to 
do,  he  lost  nothing  by  being  inquisitive.  "Dey 
wuz  one  time  —  I  dunno  de  day,  an'  I  dunno  de 
year,  but  'twuz  one  time  —  dey  come  a  big  storm. 
De  win'  blow'd  a  harrycane,  an'  de  rain  rained 
like  all  de  sky  an'  de  clouds  in  it  done  been  turn 
ter  water.  De  win'  blow'd  so  hard  dat  it  lifted  oP 
Craney-Crow  fum  his  roost  in  de  lagoons  way 
down  yan'  whar  dey  live  at,  an'  fotch  'im  up  in 
deze  parts,  an'  when  he  come,  he  come  a-whirhji'. 
De  win'  tuck  'im  up,  it  did,  an'  turn  'im  roun'  an' 
rcan',  an'  when  he  lit  whar  he  did,  he  stagger  des 
like  he  wuz  drunk  —  you  know  how  you  feel 


HOW  OLD  CRANEY-CROW  LOST  HIS  HEAD  129 
when  you  been  turnin'  roun'  an'  roun'.  Well,  dat 
wuz  de  way  wid  him ;  he  wuz  so  drunk  dat  he  hat- 
ter lean  up  ag'in  a  tree. 

"But  :cwant  long  'fo'  he  'gun  ter  feel  all  right, 
an'  he  look  roun'  fer  ter  see  whar  he  at.  He  look 
an'  he  look,  but  he  ain't  fin'  out,  kaze  he  wuz  a 
mighty  fur  ways  fum  home.  Yit  he  feel  de  water 
half-way  up  his  legs,  an'  ef  oF  Craney-Crow  is  in 
a  place  whar  he  kin  do  a  little  wadin',  he  kinder 
has  de  kome-feelin'  —  you  know  how  dat  is 
yo'se'f .  Well,  dar  he  wuz,  a  mighty  fur  ways  fum 
home,  an'  yit  up  ter  his  knees  in  water,  an'  he  des 
stood  dar,  he  did,  an'  tuck  his  ease,  hopin'  fer 
better  times  bimeby.  Now,  de  place  whar  he  wuz 
blow'd  ter  wuz  Long  Cane  Swamp,  an'  I  wish  I 
had  time  fer  ter  take  you  over  dar  an'  show  you 
right  whar  he  wuz  at  when  he  lit,  an'  I  wish  I  had 
time  fer  ter  take  you  all  thoo  de  Swamp  an'  let 
you  see  fer  yo'se'f  what  kinder  Thing  it  is. 
'Tain't  only  des  a  Swamp;  it 's  sump'n  wuss  'n 
dat.  You  kin  stan'  in  de  middle  un  it,  an'  mos' 
hear  it  ketch  its  breff,  an'  dat  what  make  I  say 
dat  'tain't  no  Swamp,  fer  all  it  look  like  one. 


ISO  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

"  Well,  dar  wuz  oF  Craney-Crow,  an'  dar  wua 
de  Thing  you  call  de  Swamp,  an'  bimeby  de  sun 
riz  an'  let  his  lamp  shine  in  dar  in  places ;  an1  den 
ol'  Craney-Crow  had  time  fer  ter  look  roun'  an' 
see  whar  he  wuz  at.  But  when  he  fin'  out,  he  ain't 
know  no  mo'  dan  what  he  know  at  fus'.  Now, 
you  kin  say  what  you  please,  an'  you  kin  laugh  ef 
you  wanter,  but  I  'm  a-gwine  ter  tell  you  dat  de 
Swamp  know'd  dat  dey  wuz  somebody  dar  what 
ain't  b'long  dar.  Ef  you  ax  me  how  de  Swamp 
know'd,  I  '11  shake  my  head  an'  shet  my  eyes;  an' 
ef  you  ax  me  how  I  know  it  know'd,  I  '11  des 
laugh  at  you.  You  '11  hatter  take  my  word  er  leave 
it,  I  don't  keer  which.  But  dar  'twuz.  De  Swamp 
know'd  dat  somebody  wuz  dar  what  ain't  b'long 
dar,  an'  it  went  ter  sleep  an'  had  bad  dreams, 
an'  it  keep  on  havin'  dem  dreams  all  daylong." 

The  little  boy  had  accepted  Uncle  Remus's 
statements  up  to  this  point,  but  when  he  said  that 
the  Swamp  went  to  sleep  and  had  bad  dreams, 
the  child  fairly  gasped  with  doubtful  astonish- 
ment. "  Why,  Uncle  Remus,  how  could  a  swamp 
go  to  sleep?" 


HOW  OLD  CRANEY-CROW  LOST  HIS  HEAD        131 

"It 's  des  like  I  tell  you,  honey;  you  kin  take 

my  word  er  you  kin  leave  it.  One  way  er  de 

yuther,  you  won't  be  no  better  off  dan  what  you  is 

right  now.  All  I  know  is  dis,  dat  you  can't  tell  no 

!  tale  ter  dem  what  don't  b'lieve  it." 

"Do  you  believe  it,  Uncle  Remus?  Mother 
says  the  stories  are  fables."  Thus  the  little  boy 
was  imbued,  without  knowing  it,  with  the  mod- 
ern spirit  of  scientific  doubt. 

"  Does  you  speck  I  'd  tell  you  a  tale  dat  I  don*t 
b'lieve  ?  Why,  I  dunner  how  I  'd  put  de  words 
one  atter  de  yuther.  Whensomever  you  ain't 
b'lievin'  what  I  'm  a-tellin',  honey,  des  le"  me 
know,  an'  I  won't  take  de  time  an'  trouble  fer  ter 
tell  it." 

"Well,  tell  me  about  the  Swamp  and  old 
Craney-Crow,"  said  the  little  boy,  placing  his 
small  hand  on  Uncle  Remus's  knee  coaxingly. 

"  Well,  suh,  ef  so  be  I  must,  den  J  hill.  Whar 
wuz  I?  Yasser!  de  Swamp,  bein'  w  'e-awake  all 
night  long,  is  bleeze  ter  sleep  endurin'  er  de  day, 
an'  so,  wid  oP  Craney-Crow  stannin'  in  de  water, 
when  de  sun  rise  up,  de  Swamp  know  dat  sump'n 


132  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

wuz  wrong,  an'  it  went  ter  sleep  an'  had  mighty 
bad  dreams.  De  sun  riz  an'  riz ;  it  come  up  on  one 
side  er  de  Swamp,  an'  atter  so  long  a  time  stood 
over  it  an'  look  down  fer  ter  see  what  de  matter. 
But  bright  ez  de  lamp  er  de  sun  wuz,  it  can't 
light  up  de  Swamp,  an*  so  it  went  on  over  an* 
went  down  on  t'er  side. 

"De  day  wuz  in  about  like  deze  days  is,  an* 
whiles  de  sun  wuz  s'archin'  roun'  tryin'  fer  ter 
fin'  out  what  de  trouble  is  in  de  Swamp,  ol' 
Craney-Crow  wuz  wadin'  'bout  in  de  water  tryin' 
ter  fin'  some  frog  steak  fer  his  dinner,  er  maybe  a 
fish  fer  ter  whet  his  appetite  on.  But  dey  wa'  n't 
nary  frog  ner  nary  fish,  kaze  de  Swamp  done  gone 
ter  sleep.  De  mo'  ol'  Craney-Crow  waded  de  mo' 
shallerer  de  water  got,  twel  bimeby  dey  wa'n't 
miff  fer  ter  mo'  dan  wet  his  foots.  He  say,  'Hey! 
how  come  dis  ?'  But  he  ain't  got  no  answer,  kaze 
de  Swamp  wid  all  its  bad  dreams,  wuz  soun* 
asleep.  Dey  v*  iz  pools  er  water  roun'  an'  about, 
an*  ol'  Craney-Crow  went  fum  one  ter  de  yuther, 
an'  fum  yuther  ter  t'  other,  but  'tain't  do  him  no 
good.  He  went  an'  stood  by  um,  he  did,  but  while* 


HOW  OLD  CRANEY-CROW  LOST  HIS  HEAD  133 
he  stannin'  dar,  dey  wa'  n't  a  riffle  on  top  un  urn. 
Bimeby  he  got  tired  er  walkin'  about,  an'  he 
stood  on  one  leg  fer  ter  res'  hisse'f  —  dough  ef 
anybody  '11  tell  me  how  you  gwineter  res'  yo'se'f ; 
wid  stannin*  on  one  leg,  I  '11  set  up  an*  tell  um 
tales  fum  now  tell  Chris'mus,  kaze  ef  I  git  tired  I 
kin  stan'  on  one  leg  an'  do  my  restin'  dat  a-way, 
"  Well,  den,  dar  wuz  oF  Craney-Crow,  an*  dar 
wuz  de  Swamp.  OF  Craney-Crow  wuz  wide- 
awake, but  de  Swamp  wuz  fast  asleep  an'  dream- 
in'  bad  dreams  like  a  wil'  hoss  an'  waggin  gwine 
down  hill.  But  de  Swamp  wa'  n't  no  stiller  dan  oF 
Craney-Crow,  stannin'  on  one  leg  wid  one  eye 
lookin'  in  de  tops  er  de  trees,  an'  de  yuther  one 
lookirF  down  in  de  grass.  But  in  de  Swamp  er 
out'n  de  Swamp,  time  goes  on  an'  night  draps 
down,  an'  dat's  de  way  it  done  dis  time.  An'  when 
night  drapped  down,  de  Swamp  kinder  stretch 
itse'f  an  'gun  ter  wake  up.  OF  Brer  Mud  Turkle 
opened  his  eyes  an'  sneeze  so  hard  dat  he  roll  off 
de  bank  inter  de  water  —  kersplash  —  an'  he  so 
close  ter  oF  Craney-Crow  dat  he  fetched  a  hop 
sideways,  an'  come  mighty  nigh  steppin'  on  Mr. 


«34  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

Hilly  Black  Snake.  Dis  skeer'd  'im  so  dat  he 
fetched  an'er  hop,  an*  mighty  nigh  lit  on  de  frog 
what  he  been  huntin'  fer.  De  frog  he  say  *hey!' 
an*  dove  in  de  mud-puddle, 

**  Atter  dat,  when  oP  Craney-Crow  move  'bout, 
he  Uf  his  foots  high,  an*  he  done  like  de  ladies 
does  when  dey  walk  in  a  wet  place.  De  whole 
caboodle  wuz  bran'  new  ter  oP  Craney-Crow,  an' 
he  look  wid  all  his  eyes,  an*  lissen  wid  all  his 
years.  Dey  wuz  sump'n  n'er  gwine  on,  but  he 
can't  make  out  what  'twuz.  He  ain't  never  is  been 
in  no  swamp  befo',  mo*  speshually  a  Swamp  what 
got  life  in  it.  He  been  useter  ma'shy  places,  whar 
dey  ain't  nothin'  but  water  an'  high  grass,  but 
dar  whar  he  fin'  hisse'f  atter  de  harrycane,  dey 
wa*  n't  no  big  sight  er  water,  an'  what  grass  dey 
wuz,  wa'  n't  longer  'n  yo'  finger.  Stidder  grass 
an'  water,  dey  wuz  vines,  an'  reeds,  an'  trees  wid 
moss  on  um  dat  made  um  look  like  Gran'suh 
Graybeard,  an'  de  vines  an*  creepers  look  like 
dey  wuz  reachin'  out  fer  'im. 

"  He  walked  about,  he  did,  like  de  groun*  wua 
hot,  an*  when  he  walk  he  look  like  he  wuz  on 


HOW  OLD  CRANEY-CROW  LOST  HIS  HEAD  135 
stilts,  his  legs  wuz  so  long.  He  hunt  roan'  fer  a 
place  fer  ter  sleep,  an*  whiles  he  wuz  doin'  dat 
he  tuck  notice  dat  dey  wuz  sump'n  n'er  gwine  on 
dat  he  ain't  never  is  see  de  like  un.  De  jacky-ma- 
lantuns,  dey  lit  up  an'  went  sailin'  roun*  des  like 
dey  wuz  huntin'  fer  'im  an'  de  frogs,  dey  holler 
at  'im  wid,  '  What  you  doin'  here  ?  What  you 
doin'  here?'  Mr.  Coon  rack  by  an'  laugh  at  'im; 
Mr.  Billy  Gray  Fox  peep  out'n  de  bushes  an' 
bark  at  'im;  Mr.  Mink  show  'im  de  green  eyes, 
an'  Mr.  Whipperwill  scol'  'im. 

"He  move  'bout,  he  did,  an'  atter  so  long  a 
time  dey  let  'im  'lone,  an'  den  when  dey  wa'  n't 
nobody  ner  nothin'  pesterin'  'im,  he  'gun  ter  look 
roun'  fer  hisse'f .  Peepin'  fust  in  one  bush  an'  den 
in  an'er,  he  tuck  notice  dat  all  de  birds  what  fly 
by  day  had  done  gone  ter  bed  widout  der  heads. 
Look  whar  he  mought,  ol'  Craney-Crow  ain't  see 
na'er  bird  but  what  had  done  tuck  his  head  off 
'fo'  he  went  ter  bed.  Look  close  ez  he  kin,  he  ain't 
see  no  bird  wid  a  head  on.  Dis  make  'im  wonder, 
an'  he  ax  hisse'f  how  come  dis,  an'  de  onliest  an- 
swer what  he  kin  think  un  is  dat  gwine  ter  bed 


136  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

wid  der  heads  on  wuz  done  gone  out  er  fashion  in 
dat  part  er  de  country. 

"Now,  you  kin  say  what  you  please  'bout  de 
creeturs  an'  der  kin'  —  'bout  de  fowls  dat  fly,  an' 
de  feathery  creeturs  what  run  on  de  groun'  — 
you  kin  say  what  you  please  'bout  um,  but  dey 
got  pride;  dey  don't  wanter  be  out'n  de  fashion. 
When  it  comes  ter  dat,  deyer  purty  much  like 
folks,  an'  dat  'uz  de  way  wid  oF  Craney-Crow;  he 
don't  wanter  be  out  er  fashion.  He  'shame'  fer  ter 
go  ter  bed  like  he  allers  been  doin',  kaze  he  ain't 
want  de  yuthers  fer  ter  laugh  an'  say  he  'uz  fum 
de  country  deestrick,  whar  dey  dunno  much.  Yit, 
study  ez  he  mought,  he  dunner  which  a-way  ter  do 
fer  ter  git  his  head  off.  De  yuthers  had  der  heads 
un'  der  wing.  But  he  ain't  know  dat. 

"  He  look  roun',  he  did,  fer  ter  see  ef  dey  ain't 
some  un  he  kin  ax  'bout  it,  an'  he  ain't  hatter  look 
long  nudder,  fer  dar,  settin'  right  at  'im,  wuz  ol' 
Brer  Pop-Eye." 

"But,  Uncle  Remus,  who  was  old  Brother 
Pop-Eye?"  inquired  the  little  boy. 

"Nobody  in  all  de  roun'  worl',  honey,  but  Brer 


HOW  OLD  CRANEY-CROW  LOST  HIS  HEAD         13T 

Kabbit.  He  had  one  name  fer  de  uplan'  an'  an'er 
name  fer  de  bottom  Ian'  —  de  swamps  an'  de 
dreens.  Wharsomever  dar  wuz  any  mischievious- 
ness  gwine  on,  right  dar  wuz  Brer  Rabbit  ez  big  ez 
life  an'  twice  ez  natchul.  He  wuz  so  close  ter  ol' 
Craney-Crow  dat  he  hatter  jump  when  he  seed 
*im.  Brer  Pop-Eye  say:  'No  needs  fer  ter  be 
skeer'd,  frien'  Craney-Crow.  You  may  be  mo* 
dan  sho  dat  I'ma  well-wisher.'  OF  Craney-Crow 
'low : '  It  do  me  good  fer  ter  hear  you  sesso,  Mr. 
Pop-Eye,  an'  seein'  dat  it 's  you  an'  not  some  un 
else,  I  don't  min'  axin'  you  how  all  de  fiyin'  birds 
takes  der  heads  off  when  dey  go  ter  bed.  It  sho 
stumps  me.'  Brer  Pop-Eye  say,  'An'  no  wonder, 
frien'  Craney-Crow,  kaze  youer  stranger  in  deze 
parts.  Dey  ain't  nothin'  ter  hide  'bout  it.  De 
skeeters  is  been  so  bad  in  dis  Swamp  sence  de 
year  one,  an'  endurin'  er  de  time  what 's  gone  by, 
dat  dem  what  live  here  done  got  in  de  habits  er 
takin'  off  der  heads  an'  puttin'  um  in  a  safe 
place.' 

"De  Craney-Crow  'low:  'But  how  in  de  name 
er  goodness  does  dey  do  it,  Brer  Pop-Eye  ?'  Mr. 


138  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

Pop-Eye  laugh  tei  kisse'f  'way  down  in  his  giz- 
zard. He  say:  'Dey  don't  do  it  by  deyse'f,  kaze 
dat  'ud  be  axin'  too  much.  Oh,  no !  dey  got  some 
un  hired  fer  ter  do  dat  kin'  er  work.'  'An'  whar 
kin  I  fin'  'im,  Brer  Pop-Eye?'  sez  ol'  Craney- 
Crow,  sezee.  Brer  Pop-Eye  'low:  'He'll  be  rout." 
terrecMj;  lie  aliers  hatter  go  roun'  fer  ter  see  da* 
he  ain't  miss  none  un  urn.'  OF  Craney-Crow 
sorter  study,  he  did,  an'  den  he  'low : '  How  does 
dey  git  der  heads  back  on,  Brer  Pop-Eye  ? '  Bre~ 
Pop-Eye  shuck  his  head.  Pie  say:  'I  'd  tell  you  ef 
I  know'd,  but  I  hatter  stay  up  so  much  at  night, 
dat  'long  'bout  de  time  when  dey  gits  der  heads 
put  on,  I  'm  soun'  asleep  an'  sno'in'  right  along. 
Ef  you  sesso,  I  '11  hunt  up  de  doctor  what  does  de 
business,  an'  I  speck  he  '11  commerdate  you  —  I 
kin  prommus  you  dat  much,  sence  you  been  so 
perlite.'  Ol'  Craney-Crow  laugh  an'  say:  'I  done 
fin'  out  in  my  time  dat  dey  don't  nothin'  pay  like 
perliteness,  speshually  ef  she's  ginnywine.' 

"Wid  dat,  Brer  Pop-Eye  put  out,  he  did,  fer 
ter  fin'  Brer  Wolf.  Knowin*  purty  well  whar  he 
wuz,   'twant  long  'fo'   here  dey  come  gallopia* 


HOW  OLD  CRANEY-CROW  LOST  HIS  HEAD  189 
back.  Brer  Pop-Eye  say:  'Mr.  Craney-Crow,  dis 
is  Mr.  Dock  Wolf;  Mr.  Dock  Wolf,  dis  is  Mr. 
Craney-Crow;  glad  fer  ter  make  you  'quainted, 
gents.'"  At  this  point,  Uncle  Remus  paused  and 
glanced  at  the  little  boy,  who  was  listening  to  the 
story  with  almost  breathless  interest.  "  You  ain't 
got  yo'  hankcher  wid  you,  is  you?"  the  old  man 
inquired  gently. 

"Mother  always  makes  me  carry  a  handker- 
chief," the  child  replied,  "and  it  makes  the 
pocket  of  my  jacket  stick  out.  Why  did  you  ask, 
Uncle  Remus  ?  " 

"  Kaze  we  er  comin'  ter  de  place  whar  you  '11 
need  it,"  said  the  old  man.  "You  better  take  it 
out  an'  hoi'  it  in  yo'  han\  Ef  you  got  any  tears  in- 
side er  you,  dey  '11  come  ter  de  top  now." 

The  child  took  out  his  handkerchief,  and  held 
it  in  his  hand  obediently.  "  Well,  suh,"  Uncle  Re- 
mus went  on,  "  atter  dey  been  made  'quainted,  oY 
Craney-Crow  tell  Dock  Wolf  'bout  his  troubles* 
an'  how  he  wanter  do  like  de  rest  er  de  flyin'  cree- 
turs,  an'  Dock  Wolf  rub  his  chin  an'  put  his 
thumb  in  his  wescut  pocket  fer  all  de  worF  like  a 


140  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

sho  nuff  doctor.  He  say  ter  oF  Craney-Crow  dat 
de  ain't  so  mighty  certain  an'  sho  dat  he  kin  he'p 
*im  much.  He  say  dat  in  all  his  born  days  he  ain't 
never  see  no  flyin'  creetur  wid  sech  a  long  neck, 
an*  dat  he  '11  hatter  be  mighty  intickler  how  he 
fool  wid  it.  He  went  close,  he  did,  an'  feel  un  it  an* 
fumble  wid  it,  an'  all  de  time  his  mouf  wuz  water- 
in*  des  like  yone  do  when  you  see  a  pie^e  er  lemon* 
pie. 

"He  say:  'You  '11  hatter  hoi'  yo'  head  lower, 
Mr.  Craney-Crow,'  an'  wid  dat  he  snap  down  on 
it,  an'  dat  wuz  de  last  er  dat  Craney-Crow.  He 
ain't  never  see  his  home  no  mo',  an'  mo'  dan  dat, 
oF  Dock  Wolf  slung  'im  'cross  his  back  an'  can- 
tered off  home.  An'  dat's  de  reason  dat  de 
Craney-Crows  all  fly  so  fas'  when  dey  come  thoo 
dis  part  er  de  country." 

"  But  why  did  you  ask  me  to  take  out  my  hand- 
kerchief, Uncle  Remus?" 

"Kaze  I  wanter  be  on  de  safe  side,"  remarked 
the  old  man  with  much  solemnity.  "  Ef  you  got  a 
hankcker  when  you  cry,  you  kin  wipe  off  de 
weeps,  an'  you  kin  hide  de  puckers  in  yo'  face.'* 


vm 

BROTHER  FOX  FOLLOWS  THE  FASHION 

THE  little  boy  was  not  sure  whether  Uncle 
Remus  had  finished  the  story;  it  would 
have  been  hard  for  a  grown  man  to 
keep  up  with  the  whimsical  notions  of  the  vener- 
able old  darkey,  and  surely  you  could  n't  expect 
a  little  bit  of  a  boy,  who  had  had  no  experience 
to  speak  of,  to  do  as  well.  The  little  lad  waited  a 
while,  and,  seeing  that  Uncle  Remus  showed  no 
sign  of  resuming  the  narrative,  he  spoke  up.  "  I 
did  n't  see  anything  to  cry  about,"  he  remarked. 
"Well,  some  folks  cries,  an'  yuther  folks 
laughs.  Dey  got  der  reasons,  too.  Now,  I  dunno 
dat  oP  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  hard-hearted  er  col- 
blooded  any  mo'  dan  de  common  run  er  de  cree- 
turs,  but  it  look  like  he  kin  see  mo'  ter  tickle  'im 
dan  ye  yuthers,  an'  he  wuz  constant  a-laughin' 
Mos'  er  de  time  he'd  laugh  in  his  innerds,  but  den 

141 


142  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

ag'in,  when  sump'n  tetch  his  funny-bone,  he  *d 
open  up  wid  a  big  ha-ha-ha  dat  'ud  make  de 
yuther  creeturs  take  ter  de  bushes. 

"  An*  dat  'uz  de  way  he  done  when  oP  Craney* 
Crow  had  his  head  tooken  off  fer  ter  be  in  de 
fashion.  He  laugh  an*  laugh  twel  it  hurt  'im  ter 
laugh,  an'  den  he  laugh  some  mo'  fer  good  med- 
jur.  He  laughed  plum  twel  mornin',  an'  den  he 
laugh  whiles  he  wuz  rackin'  on  todes  home.  He  'd 
lope  a  little  ways,  an'  den  he'd  set  down  by  de 
side  er  de  road  an*  laugh  some  mo'.  Whiles  he 
gwine  on  dis  away,  he  come  ter  de  place  whar 
Brer  Fox  live  at,  an'  den  it  look  like  he  can't  git 
no  furder.  Ef  a  leaf  shook  on  de  tree,  it  'ud  put 
'im  in  min'  er  de  hoppin'  an'  jumpin'  an'  scufflin* 
dat  oF  Craney-Crow  done  when  Dock  Wolf  tuck 
an'  tuck  off  his  head  fer  'im. 

**  Ez  luck  would  have  it,  Brer  Fox  wuz  out  in 
his  pea-patch  fer  ter  see  how  his  crap  wuz  gittin* 
on,  an*  huntin*  roun'  fer  ter  see  ef  dey  wuz  any 
stray  tracks  whar  somebody  had  bin  atter  his 
truck.  Whiles  he  wuz  iookin'  roun'  he  hear  some 
un  laughin'  fit  ter  kill,  an'  he  looked  over  de 


BROTHER  FOX  FOLLOWS  THE  FASHION  Ifc 

fence  fer  ter  see  who  't  is.  Dar  wuz  Brer  Rabbit 
des  a-rollin'  in  de  grass  an'  laughin'  hard  ez  he 
kin.  Brer  Fox  'low:  'Heyo,  Brer  Rabbit!  whatde 
name  er  goodness  de  matter  wid  you  ? '  Brer  Rab- 
bit, in  de  middle  er  his  laughin'  can't  do  nothin* 
but  shake  his  head  an'  kick  in  de  grass. 

"  'Bout  dat  time,  ol'  Miss  Fox  stuck  'er  head 
out'n  de  winder  fer  ter  see  what  gwine  on.  She  say 
'Sandy,  what  all  dat  fuss  out  dar?  Ain't  you 
know  dat  de  baby's  des  gone  ter  sleep?'  Brer 
Fox,  he  say,  '  'T  ain't  nobody  in  de  roun'  worl* 
but  Brer  Rabbit,  an'  ef  I  ain't  mighty  much  mis- 
tooken,  he  done  gone  an'  got  a  case  er  de  high-* 
stericks.'  Ol'  Miss  Fox  say,  CI  don't  keer  what  he 
got,  I  wish  he  'd  go  on  'way  f um  dar,  er  hush  up 
his  racket.  He  '11  wake  de  chillun,  an'  dem  what 
ain't  'sleep  he  '11  skeer  de  wits  out'n  'um.' 

"  Wid  dat,  ol'  Brer  Rabbit  cotch  his  breff,  an* 
pass  de  time  er  day  wid  Brer  Fox  an'  his  ol' 
'oman.  Den  he  say,  'You  see  me  an'  you  hear 
me,  Brer  Fox;  well,  des  ez  you  see  me  now,  dat  de 
way  I  been  gwine  on  all  night  long.  I  speck  maybe 
it  ain't  right  fer  ter  laugh  at  dem  what  ain't  got  de 


144  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

sense  dey  oughter  been  born  wid,  but  i  can't  Iie'p 
it  fer  ter  save  my  life ;  I  try,  but  de  mo'  what  I  try 
de  wusser  I  gits.  I  oughter  be  at  home  right  now, 
an'  I  would  be  ef  it  had  n't  'a'  been  fer  sump'n  I 
seed  las'  night,'  an'  den  he  went  ter  laughin' 
ag'in.  OF  Miss  Fox,  she  fix  de  bonnet  on  her 
head,  an'  den  she  say, '  What  you  see,  Brer  Rab- 
bit? It  mus'  be  mighty  funny;  tell  us  'bout  it,  an' 
maybe  we  '11  laugh  wid  you.'  Brer  Babbit  'low, 
'I  don't  min'  tellin'  you,  ma'am,  ef  I  kin  keep 
fum  laughin',  but  ef  I  hatter  stop  fer  ter  ketch  my 
breff,  I  know  mighty  well  dat  you  '11  skuzen  me.' 
OF  Miss  Fox  say,  'Dat  we  will,  Brer  Rabbit.' 

"Wid  dat  Brer  Rabbit  up  an'  toF  all  'bout  oF 
Craney-Crow  comin'  in  de  Swamp,  an'  not  know- 
in'  how  ter  go  ter  bed.  He  say  dat  de  funny  part 
un  it  wuz  dat  oF  Craney-Crow  ain't  know  dat 
when  anybody  went  ter  bed  dey  oughter  take  der 
head  off,  an'  den  he  start  ter  laughin'  ag'in.  OF 
Miss  Fox  look  at  her  ol'  man  an'  he  look  at  her; 
dey  dunner  what  lev  sav  er  how  ter  say  it. 

"  Brer  Rabbit  see  how  dey  er  doin',  but  he  ain't 
pay  no  'tention.  He  'low,  'Dat  ol'  Craney-Crow 


BROTHER  FOX  FOLLOWS  THE  FASHION  14* 

look  like  he  had  travel  fur  an*  wide ;  he  look  like 
he  know  what  all  de  fashions  is,  but  when  he  got 
in  de  Swamp  an'  see  all  de  creeturs  —  dem  what 
run  an'  dem  what  fly  —  sleepin'  wid  der  heads 
off,  he  sho'  wuz  tuck  back;  he  say  he  ain't  never 
her  er  sech  doin's  ez  dat.  You  done  seed  how 
country  folks  do  —  well,  des  dat  away  he  done.  I 
been  tryin'  hard  fer  ter  git  home,  an'  tell  my  ol* 
'oman  'bout  it,  but  eve'y  time  I  gits  a  good  start,  it 
pop  up  in  my  min'  'bout  how  ol'  Craney-Crow 
done  when  he  fin'  out  what  de  fashion  wuz  in  dis 
part  er  de  country.'  An'  den  Brer  Rabbit  sot  inter 
laughin',  and  Brer  Fox  an'  ol'  Miss  Fox  dey 
j'ined  in  wid  'im,  kaze  dey  ain't  want  nobody  fer 
ter  git  de  idee  dat  dey  don't  know  what  de  fash- 
ion is,  speshually  de  fashion  in  de  part  er  de 
country  whar  dey  er  livin'  at. 

"  Ol'  Miss  Fox,  she  say  dat  ol'  Craney-Crow 
must  be  a  funny  sort  er  somebody  not  ter  know 
what  de  fashions  is,  an'  Brer  Fox  he  'gree  twel  he 
grin  an'  show  his  tushes.  He  say  he  ain't  keerin' 
much  'bout  fashions  hisse'f ,  but  he  would  n't  like 
fer  ter  be  laughed  at  on  de  'count  er  plain  ig 


146  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

mince.  Brer  Rabbit,  he  say  he  ain't  makim  ao 
pertence  er  doin'  eve'ything  dat  's  done,  kaze  h© 
ain't  dat  finnicky,  but  when  fashions  is  comfer- 
tubble  an'  coolin'  he  don't  min'  follerin'  um  fer 
der  own  sake  ez  well  ez  his'n.  He  say  now  dat  he 
done  got  in  de  habits  er  sleepin'  wid  his  head  off, 
lie  would  n't  no  mo'  sleep  wid  it  on  dan  he'd  fly. 

"  Ol'  Miss  Fox,  she  up  'n'  spon',  *I  b'lieve  you, 
Brer  Rabbit  —  dat  I  does ! '  Brer  Rabbit,  he 
make  a  bow,  he  did,  an'  'low,  'I  know  mighty 
well  dat  I'  m  ol'-fashion',  an'  dey  ain't  no  'nyin* 
it,  Miss  Fox,  but  when  de  new  gineration  hit  on 
ter  sump'n  dat 's  cool  an'  comfertubble,  I  ain't 
de  man  ter  laugh  at  it  des  kaze  it 's  tollerbul  new. 
No,  ma'am !  I  '11  try  it,  an'  ef  it  work  all  right  I  '11 
ioller  it;  ef  it  don't,  I  won't.  De  fus'  time  I  try  ter 
sleep  wid  my  head  off  I  wuz  kinder  nervious,  but 
I  soon  got  over  dat,  an'  now  ef  it  wuz  ter  go  out 
fashion,  I  'd  des  keep  right  on  wid  it,  I  don't  keer 
what  de  yuthers  'd  think.  Dat 's  me;  dat 's  me  all 
over.' 

"Bimeby,  Brer  Rabbit  look  at  de  sun,  an*  des 
Yow  he  bleeze  ter  git  home.  He  wish  ol'  Miss  Fox 


BROTHER  FOX  FOLLOWS  THE  FASHION     m 

mighty  well,  an'  made  his  bow,  an*  put  out  dowa 
de  road  at  a  two-forty  gait.  Brer  Fox  look  kinder 
sheepish  when  his  oF  'oman  look  at  'im.  He  say 
dat  de  idee  er  sleepin*  wid  yo'  head  off  is  bras 
new  ter  him.  OF  Miss  Fox  'low  dat  dey's  a  heap 
er  things  in  dis  worF  what  he  dunno,  an*  what  he 
won't  never  fin'  out.  She  say,  '  Here  I  is  a-scrim- 
pin'  an'  a-workin'  my  eyeballs  out  fer  ter  be  es 
good  ez  de  bes',  an'  dar  you  is  a  projickin'  roun* 
an'  not  a-keerin'  whedder  yo'  fambly  is  in  de 
fashion  er  not.'  Brer  Fox  'low  dat  ef  sleepin'  wid 
yo'  head  off  is  one  er  de  fashions,  he  fer  one  ain't 
keerin'  'bout  tryin'.  OF  Miss  Fox  say,  'No,  an" 
you  ain't  a-keerin'  what  folks  say  'bout  yo'  wife 
an'  fambly.  No  wonder  Brer  Rabbit  had  ter 
laugh  whiles  he  wuz  tellin'  you  'bout  Craney- 
Crow,  kaze  you  stood  dar  wid  yo'  mouf  open  like 
you  ain't  got  no  sense.  It  '11  be  a  purty  tale  he  'H 
tell  his  fambly  'bout  de  tacky  Fox  fambly.' 

"Wid  dat  OF  Miss  Fox  switch  away  fum  de 
winder  an'  went  ter  cleanin'  up  de  house,  an' 
bimeby  Brer  Fox  went  in  de  house  hopin'  dat 
brekfus'  wuz  ready;  but  dey  wa'  n't  no  sign  er 


148  TOLD  BV  UNCLE  REMUS 

nothin*  ter  eat,  Atter  so  long  a  time,  Brer  Fox  as 
tfhen  he  wuz  gwine  ter  git  brekfus*.  His  oF  'oman 
'low  dat  eatin*  brekfus'  an'  gittin*  it,  too,  wuz  one 
er  de  fashions.  Ef  he  ain't  foilerin'  fashions,  she 
ainst  needer.  He  ain't  say  no  mo*,  but  went  off 
behin"  de  house  an*  had  a  mighty  time  er  thinkin* 
an'  scratchin'  fer  fleas, 

"When  bedtime  come,  oV  Miss  Fox  wuz 
mighty  tired,  an'  she  ain't  a-keerin'  much  'bout 
fashions  right  den.  Des  ez  she  wuz  fixin*  fer  ter 
roll  'erse'f  in  de  kivver,  Brer  Fox  come  in  fum  a 
hunt  he  'd  been  havin'.  He  fotch  a  weasel  an'  a 
mink  wid  'im,  an'  he  put  um  in  de  cubberd  whar 
dey  $d  keep  cool.  Den  he  wash  his  face  an'  ban's, 
an'  'low  dat  he  's  ready  fer  ter  have  his  head 
tooken  off  fer  de  night,  ef  his  ol'  'oman  '11  be  so 
good  ez  ter  he'p  'im, 

"  By  dat  time  ol'  Miss  Fox  had  done  got  over 
de  pouts,  but  she  ain't  got  over  de  idee  er  foilerin* 
atter  de  fashions,  an'  so  she  say  she  '11  be  glad  fer 
ter  he'p  sim  do  what 's  right,  seein'  dat  he  's  so 
hard-headed  in  gin'uL  Den  come  de  knotty  part. 
Na'er  one  un  um  know'd  what  dey  wuz  'bout, 


BROTHER  FOX  FOLLOWS  THE  FASHION  148 

an*  dar  dey  sot  an*  jowered  'bout  de  bes*  way  fer 
ter  git  de  head  off.  Brer  Fox  say  dey  ain't  but  one 
way,  less'n  you  twis*  de  head  off,  an*  goodness 
knows  he  ain't  want  nobody  fer  ter  be  twis 'in*  his 
neck,  kaze  he  ticklish  anyhow.  Dat  one  way  wuz 
ter  take  de  ax  an*  cut  de  head  off.  OP  Miss  Fox, 
she  squall,  she  did,  an*  hoP  up  her  han's  like  she 
skeer'd. 

"Brer  Fox  sot  dar  lookin'  up  de  chimbley. 
Bimeby  his  oP  'oman  'low,  '  De  ax  look  mighty 
skeery,  but  one  thing  I  know,  an*  dat  ain't  two,  it 
ain't  gwineter  hurt  you  ef  it  *s  de  fashion.  Brer 
Fox  kinder  work  his  under  jaw,  but  he  ain't  savin" 
nothin'.  So  his  oP  'oinan  went  out  ter  de  wood- 
pile an'  got  de  ax,  an*  den  she  say,  '  I  *m  ready, 
honey,  whenever  you  is,'  an'  Brer  Fox,  he  'spon', 
■  I  'm  des  ez  ready  now  ez  I  ever  is  ter  be,'  an' 
wid  dat  she  up  wid  de  ax  an'  blip!  she  tuck  'im 
right  on  de  neck.  De  head  come  right  off  wid  little 
er  no  trouble,  an*  oP  Miss  Fox  laugh  an'  say  ter 
herse'f  dat  she  glad  dey  follerin'  de  fashion  at 
ias\ 

"Brer  Fox  sorter  kick  an*  squirm  when  de 


TO  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

head  fus'  come  off,  but  his  ol*  'oman  'low  dat  dat 
wuz  de  sign  he  wuz  dreamin*,  an'  atter  he  lay 
sight  still  she  say  he  wuz  havin'  a  better  night's 
res'  dan  what  he  *d  had  in  a  mighty  long  time. 
An'  den  she  happen  fer  ter  think  dat  whiles  her 
ol'  man  done  gone  an*  got  in  de  fashion,  dar  she 
wuz  ready  fer  ter  go  ter  bed  wid  'er  head  on.  She 
dunner  how  ter  git  'er  head  off,  an*  she  try  ter 
wake  up  her  ol'  man,  but  it  look  like  he  wuz  one 
er  dem  stubborn  kinder  sleepers  what  won't  be 
woken'd  atter  dey  once  drap  off.  She  shake  *im 
an'  holler  at  'im,  but  *t  ain't  do  no  good.  She  can't 
make  *im  stir,  spite  er  all  de  racket  she  make,  an' 
she  hatter  go  ter  bed  wid  her  head  on. 

"  She  went  ter  bed.  she  did,  but  she  ain't  sleep 
goodv  kaze  she  had  trouble  in  de  min',  She  'd 
wake  up  an'  turn  over,  an'  roll  an'  toss,  an*  won- 
der what  de  yuther  creeturs  *d  say  ef  dey  know'd 
she  wuz  so  fur  outer  de  fashion  ez  ter  sleep  wid 
'er  head  oil  An*  she  had  bad  dreams;  she  dremp 
dat  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  laughin'  at  'er,  an'  she  start 
fer  ter  run  at  'im,  an*  de  fust  news  she  know'd  de 
dogs  wuz  on  her  trail  an*  gwine  in  full  cry.  'Twua 


"  <S'o  his  ol'  'oman  went  out  ter  de  woodpile  an   got  de  ax" 


BROTHEB  POX   FOLLOWS  THE  FASHION  141 

dat  a-way  all  night  long,  an*  she  wuz  m©s  dan 
thankful  when  mornin'  come. 

"She  try  ter  wake  up  her  oP  man,  but  still 
he  won't  be  woke.  He  lay  dar,  he  did,  an*  won't 
budge,  an'  bimeby  of  Miss  Fox  git  mad  an*  go 
off  an'  leave  'im.  Atter  so  long  a  time  she  went 
back  ter  whar  hr.  wuz  layin',  an*  he  wuz  des  like 
she  lef  'im.  She  try  ter  roust  'im  up,  but  he  won't 
be  rousted.  She  holler  so  loud  dat  Brer  Rabbit, 
which  he  wuz  gwine  by,  got  de  idee  dat  she  wu* 
eallin'  him*  an'  he  stick  his  head  in  de  do' an* 
low,  '  Is  you  eallin'  me,  ma'am  ?  * 

"  She  say,  *  La!  Brer  Rabbit  ?  I  ain't  know  you 
wuz  anywheres  aroun*.  I  been  tryin*  fer  ter  wake 
up  my  ol'  man;  he  mo'  lazier  dis  mornin'  dan  1 
ever  is  know  'im  ter  be.  Ef  my  house  wa'  n't  all 
to'  up,  I  'd  ax  you  in  an'  git  you  ter  drag  'im  out 
an"  git  'im  up  ' 

"Brer  Rabbit  say,  *Ef  dey  ain't  nothin*  de 
matter  wid  Brer  Fox  he  '11  git  up  in  good  time/ 
Ol*  Miss  Fox  'low,  'La!  I  dunner  what  you  call 
good  time.  Look  at  de  sun  —  it 's  'way  up  yan- 
der.  an'  dar  he  is  sleepin*  like  a  log.  'Fo'  he  went 


KB  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

ter  bed  he  made  me  take  his  head  off„  a«v  ne  ain't 
woke  up  sence.'  *Ans  how  did  you  git  it  off* 
mum  ? '  sez  oT  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee,  *  1  tuck  ax** 
tuck  de  ax  an*  cut  it  off,'  se'she.  Wid  dat  Brer 
i&abbit  flung  bofe  ban's  over  his  face,  an'  mosieri 
off  like  he  wuz  cryin\  Fum  de  way  he  look  you  *d 
'a'  thunk  his  heart  wuz  broke;  yit  he  wa*  n'* 

•      *    11 

erym  . 

'Then  what  was  he  doing,  Uncle  Remus? 
the  little  boy  asked. 

"Des  a-laughin'  —  laughin*  fit  ter  kill  Whep 
ol*  Miss  Fox  see  'im  gwine  long  like  he  wuz  cryin\, 
&he  spicion'd  dat  sump'n  wuz  wrong,  an'  sho 
nuff  'twuz,  kaze  Brer  Fox  ain't  wake  up  no  mo 
She  'low,  'OP  honey  look  like  he  dead,  but  he  bet- 
ter be  dead  dan  outer  de  fashion ! ' 

"I take  notice,  honey,  dat  you  ain't  use  yc* 
frankcher  yit.  What  de  matter  wid  you  ?  is  yc 
weeps  all  dry  up  ?  " 

The  child  laughed  and  stuffed  his  handler?- 
chief  back  in  his  pocket 


Sii*,'  • 


Shs  dremp  dat  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  laughin'  at 


er 


m 

WHY    THE    TUKKEY    BUZZA&D    E©    HAUD>- 

"m  V|* OTHER/' said  the  little  boy  one 
I  ^L/  I      day,  "  do  you  know  why  the  tur- 

1.   Y   JL  key  buzzards  are  bald?*" 

"Why,  no,"  replied  the  young  mother,  very 
much  surprised.  "  I  did  n't  even  know  they  were 
bald.  But  why  do  you  ask  such  a  silly  question  V* 

"Because  Uncle  Remus  said  you  knew  why 
they  are  bald. " 

"You  tell  Uncle  Remus,"  said  the  grand- 
mother, laughing  heartily,  "  that  I  say  he  is  an  old 
rascal,  and  he  had  better  behave,  himself. " 

The  way  of  it  was  this :  The  little  boy  had  been 
walking  out  in  the  fields  with  Uncle  Remus,  ai*u 
had  seen,  away  up  in  the  sky,  two  or  three  turkey 
buzzards  floating  lazily  along  on  motionless 
wings.  From  the  fields  they  had  gone  into  thft 
woods,  and  in  these  woods  they  had  found  what 

103 


164  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

Uncle  Remus  had  said  wa*»  a  buzzard's  nest.  It 
was  in  a  hollow  tree,  flat  on  the  ground,  and 
when  they  came  near,  the  mother  buzzard  issued 
forth  from  the  hollow,  with  such  a  kissing  and 
Happing  of  wings  that  the  little  boy  was  frighten- 
ed for  a  moment. 

"Go  on  'way  fum  here,  you  bald-headed  ol 
rapscallion;  el  you  don't  I'll  do  you  wuss  dan 
Brer  Rabbit  done  you.  Honey,"  he  went  on, 
turning  to  the  child,  "you  better  put  yo'  hank- 
cher  ter  yo*  nose  ef  you  gwineter  look  in  dat  nes% 
kaze  ol'  Miss  Turkey  Buzzard  is  a  scandalious 
housekeeper, " 

The  child  did  as  he  was  bid,  and,  peeping  in 
the  nest,  he  saw  two  young  ones,  as  white  as  gos- 
lings. While  he  was  peeping  in  he  got  a  whiff  of 
the  odor  of  the  buzzards,  and  turned  and  ran 
away  from  the  place  as  hard  as  he  could.  Uncle 
Remus  followed  suit,  and  hobbled  away  as  fast  as 
his  legs  could  carry  him  When  they  were  both 
out  of  range  of  the  buzzard's  nest,  they  stopped 
and  laughed  at  each  other. 

M  You  nee'nter  be  skeer'd  dat  anything  '11  ketch 


WHY  THE  TURKEY   BUZZARD  IS  BALD-HEADED  IBS 

you,  honey.  Dey  ain't  nothin'  but  a  race-hoss 
got  yo'  gait.  Why,  ef  I  had  n't  'a'  been  wid  you? 
you  'd  'a'  been  home  by  now,  kaze  you  *d  V 
started  when  oF  Miss  Buzzard  fus  flew  out  er  dat 
hole." 

The  little  boy  made  no  denial,  for  he  knew 
that  what  Uncle  Remus  said  had  much  more  than 
a  grain  of  truth  in  it.  Besides,  he  was  thinking  of 
other  things  just  then.  He  soon  made  known 
what  it  was.  "  Why  did  you  call  the  buzzard  bald- 
headed,  Uncle  Remus?" 

"A  mighty  good  reason,"  responded  the  old 
man.  "  Dey  ain't  no  mo'  got  fedders  on  de  top  er 
der  head  dan  you  got  ha'r  in  de  pa'm  er  yo'  han". 
You  ketch  one  un  um,  an'  ef  you  kin  hoi'  yo* 
breff  long  nuff  ter  look,  you'll  see  dat  I  'm  tellin* 
you  de  trufe.  I  ain't  blamin'  um  fer  dat,  kaze  dey 
got  a  might  good  reason  fer  bein'  bal'-headed. 
Dey's  mighty  few  folks  dat  know  what  de  reason 
is,  an'  one  un  um  is  yo'  ma.  Ef  you  '11  kinder  coay 
'er,  I  speck  she'll  tell  you. " 

This  was  what  led  up  to  the  question  the  child 
aad  asked  his  mother,  and  was  the  occasion  of 


146  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

the  grandmother's  laughing  remark  that  Uncte 
Remus  was  an  old  rascal. 

The  little  boy  gave  Uncle  Remus  the  full  par- 
ticulars the  next  time  he  saw  him.  The  old  man 
laughed  merrily  when  he  heard  that  his  Miss 
Sally  had  called  him  an  old  rascal.  "Talk  'bout 
yo'  smart  wimmen  folks!'*  he  exclaimed.  "Dey 
ain't  na'er  man  in  de  worF  what  kin  hoi'  a  candle 
ter  yo'  gran'ma  ;  an'  des  «z  you  see  'er  now,  dat 
des  de  way  she  been  sence  she  wuz  a  gal.  She 
know  what  you  gwineter  say  long  'fo'  you  kin  git 
ie  words  out  'n  yo'  mouf ;  she  kin  look  right  thoo 
you  an'  tell  you  what  you  thinkin'  'bout.  You 
may  laugh  all  you  wanter,  but  ef  youer  feelin' 
bad  she  '11  know  it.  When  Miss  Sally  goes  an' 
dies,  dey  won't  be  na'er  nudder  somebody  fer  ter 
take  her  place.  Dey  ain't  r>o  two  ways  'bout  dat. " 

*'I  think  she  is  getting  used  to  mother,"  the 
iittle  boy  remarked  in  his  old-fashioned  way  —  a 
way  that  was  a  source  of  constant  amazement  to 
Uncle  Remus,  who  could  hardly  understand  how 
a  child  could  act  and  talk  like  a  grown  person  Hv 
legarded  the  child  with  a  puzzled  look,  W 


WHY  THE  TURKEY  BUZZARD  IS  BALD-HEADED  167 

closed  his  eyes  with  a  sigh.  The  child  had  no  idea 
that  Uncle  Remus  was  either  puzzled  or  amazedj, 
and  so  he  harked  back  to  the  original  problem. 
u  Why  is  the  buzzard  bald-headed  ?  M  he  asked. 

"Ef  yo'  ma  an'  yo'  gran'ma  dunno,"  replied 
Uncle  Remus,  "  I  speck  I'll  hatter  tell  you,  an*  de 
bes'  way  ter  do  dat  is  ter  tell  de  tale  dat  de  oF 
folks  tol'  der  chillun.  What  make  it  mo'  easy,  is 
dat  dey  ain't  nothin'  er  Brer  Turkey  Buzzard  in 
it  but  his  name.  Ef  he  wuz  in  it  hisse'f,  I  don't 
speck  you  'd  stay  long  nuff  fer  ter  hear  me  tell  it." 
The  child  laughed,  for  he  remembered  how  he 
wanted  to  run  away  from  the  tree  when  old  Mrs* 
Buzzard  came  flopping  out.  He  laughed,  but  said 
nothing,  and  Uncle  Remus  resumed; 

"  Dey  wuz  a  time  when  Brer  Rabbit  live  in  one 
side  uv  a  holler  tree.  One  day  whiles  he  wue 
gwine  pirootin'  roun',  oF  Miss  Turkey  Buzzard 
come  knockin'  at  de  do  ,  an*  when  she  don't  heas 
nothin'  she  stuck  'er  head  in  an'  look  roun'.  Ter 
see  'er  den  an'  see  'er  now  you  would  n't  know 
she  wuz  de  same  creetur.  She  had  a  fine  top-kno2 
on  'er  head,  bigger  dan  de  one  on  de  f  reezlin'  hen. 


158  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

which  de  win*  done  blow  all  her  fedders  de  wrong 
way.  Yasser,  she  had  a  fine  top-knot,  an*  she  'uz 
purty  good-lookin'. 

"  Well,  suh,  she  peeped  in,  she  did,  an'  den  she 
seed  dat  dey  wa'  n't  nobody  in  dar,  needer  Gran- 
daddy  Owl,  ner  Brer  Polecat,  ner  Brer  Rattle- 
snake. She  take  an'er  look,  an'  den  in  she  walked, 
an*  made  'erself  mighty  much  at  home.  It  ain't 
take  ol*  Miss  Buzzard  long  fer  ter  fix  her  nes*, 
kaze  she  ain't  want  nothin'  but  five  sticks  an'  a 
han'ful  er  leaves.  She  went  out  an'  fotch  um  in 
an'  dar  she  wuz.  She  went  right  straight  tei 
housekeeping  kaze  she  ain't  had  ter  put  down  no 
kyarpits,  ner  straighten  out  no  rugs,  ner  move  de 
cheers  roun*,  ner  wash  no  dishes. 

"  Well,  long  todes  night,  er  maybe  a  httle  later, 
Brer  Rabbit  come  home,  an*  like  he  mos'  allers 
done,  he  come  a-laughin".  He  been  projickin'  wid 
£ome  er  de  yuther  creeturs,  an  he  wuz  mighty 
pleased  wid  hisse'f„  When  he  fus'  come  he  ain't 
take  no  notice  er  ol'  Miss  Buzzard.  He  come  in 
a-Iaughin',  an*  he  laugh  twel  he  don't  wanter 
ilaugh  no  mo*.  But  bimeby  he  gun  ter  take  notice 


WHY  THE  TURKEY  BUZZAHD  IS  BALD-HEADED  158 
dat  every'thing  wa'  n't  des  like  it  use  ter  be.  He 
low,  *  Somebody  done  been  here  while  I  'm  gone* 
an'  whoever  'twuz,  is  got  a  mighty  bad  brefiV  He 
keep  still,  kaze  "twuz  mighty  dark  in  de  holler,  but 

he  keep  on  wig* 


glin*  his  nose  an 


■  Long  todea  night,  er  maybe  a  little  later.  Brer  Rabbii  come  home  ™ 

tryin'  ter  sneeze.  Bimeby,  he  say,  *  I  dunner  whc 
'twuz ;  all  I  know,  is  dat  he  better  go  see  de  doctor* 
**Dis  *uz  too  much  fer  oV  Miss  Buzzard,  am' 
she  say,  *  I  thank  you  kin'ly,  Brer  Rabbit!  Youes? 
in  de  way  er  makin'  frien's  wharsomever  you  gof 
Brer  Rabbit,  he  jump  mos*  out  ln  his  skin,  he 


166  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

wuz  so  skeer'd,  He  cotch  his  breff  an*  sneeze,  an' 
den  he  'low,  *Heyo,  Sis  Buzzard!  is  dat  you?  I 
thought  you  stayed  in  de  trees.  What  win*  blow 
you  here,  an*  how  is  ol'  Brer  Buzzard  ?J  She  say, 
'  Oh,  he  *s  doin*  ez  well  ez  you  kin  speck  a  man 
ter  do ;  he  *s  'way  f urn  home  when  he  oughter  be 
dar,  an*  when  he  *s  dar,  he  's  in  de  way.  Men 
folks  is  monstus  tryin*,  Brer  Rabbit;  you  know 
dat  yo'se'f.*  Brer  Rabbit  low,  6I  ain't  *sputin! 
what  you  say,  but  when  wimmen  gits  out  er  sorts, 
an*  has  de  all-overs,  ez  you  may  say,  de  men  folks 
has  ter  b'ar  de  brunt  er  der  ailments.  You  kin  put 
iat  down  f er  a  f ack, * 

M  Dey  went  on  dat  a- way,  'sputin'  'bout  de  seek, 
twel  ol'  Miss  Buzzard  'gun  ter  git  sleepy.  She  say, 
'Brer  Rabbit,  ef  you  took  mo'  time  for  sleep, 
you  *d  be  lots  better  off.'  Brer  Rabbit  low,  'May- 
be so  —  maybe  so,  Sis  Buzzard,  but  I  can't  help 
say  habits.  I'm  a  light  sleeper,  but  I  wuz  born  so, 
an'  if  you  so  much  ez  move  endurin'  er  de  night 
I'll  have  one  eye  open.'  01'  Miss  Buzzard  say, 
1  Ef  dat  *s  de  case,  Brer  Rabbit,  I  '11  thank  you 
a&r  ter  wake  me  ef  you  hear  a  snake  crawlm*. 


WHY  THE  TURKEY  BUZZARD  IS  BALD-HEADED  161 
Oey  ain't  many  things  I  'm  afeard  un,  an"  one  UV 
um  is  a  snake/  Brer  Rabbit  laugh  hearty*  an*  low3 
'  Ef  snakes  wuz  all  dat  trouble  me.  Sis  Buzzard, 
1  'd  be  mo*  dan  happy.  Many  an*  manyss  de  time 
when  I  uv  woke  up  an9  foun*  um  quiled  up  in  my 
britches  laig/  Miss  Buzzard,  she  sorter  flutter  he? 
wings,  an*  say,  *Oh,  hush.  Brer  Rabbit!  you  gf 
me  de  creeps ;  you  sho  do/ 

"Dat  'uz  de  fust  night/*  said  Uncle  Remus, 
flinging  away  a  quid  of  tobacco  and  taking  ft 
fresh  one.  '*  By  de  nex*  day  ol*  Miss  Buzzard  had 
done  took  up  her  bode  an*  lodgin*  whar  Brer 
Rabbit  wuz  livin*  at.  He  ain't  say  nothin',  kaze  he 
des  waitin*  de  time  wiien  he  kin  play  some  kinder 
prank  on  her  an'  her  f  ambly.  All  dat  he  need  fez 
ter  brace  'im  up  wuz  ter  have  a  mighty  strong 
stomach,  an'  he  thank  de  Lord  dat  he  got  dat 
Time  went  on,  an*  ez  any  kinder  soun*  egg  will 
hatch  ef  you  gi'  it  time*  so  ol*  Miss  Buzzard  egg 
hatch,  an*  mos'  'fo'  you  know  it,  ef  you  ain't  hat 
ter  live  dar  like  Brer  Rabbit,  she  hatch  out  her 
eggs  an'  have  a  pair  er  mighty  likely  chilluzi,  n£ 
you  kin  call  Buzzards  likely. 


re?  lOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

**  OF  Miss  Buzzard  wuz  monstus  proud  er  de»e 
young  unsf  an*  de  time  come  when  she  wuz  hard 
put  ter  git  um  vittles.  She  'd  fly  off  an*  dey  'd 


'O 


**  01 '  Miss  Buzzard  wvz  monstus  proud  er  deze  young  tint " 

holler  fer  sump'n  ter  eat  when  dey  hear  'er  come 
back,  an'  it  got  so  atter  while  dat  dey  'd  hatter  go 
hongry,  dey  wuz  so  ravenous.  An'  den  she  'gun 
ter  look  sideways  at  Brer  Rabbit.  He  know 
mighty  well  what  she  thinkin'  'bout,  but  he  ain'f 
Bay  nothin*.  He'd  come  an'  go  des  like  oF  Miss 
Buzzard  want  in  de  back  part  er  her  head,  but  all 
de  time,  he  know'd  what  she  plannin*  ter  do,  an' 
he  ack  accordin'.  He  low  ter  oP  Miss  Buzzard  dat 


fm\   THE  TURKEY  BUZZARD  IS  BALD-HEADED  163 

lie  know  she  wanter  be  kinder  private  when  she 
raisin'  a  fambly,  an'  ez  dey  wuz  two  hollers  in  de 
tree,  he  say  he  gwinter  make  his  home  in  de 
yuther  one.  Miss  Buzzard,  she  say,  she  did,  dal 
Brer  Rabbit  wuz  mighty  good  fer  ter  be  thinkm' 
'bout  yuther  people,  but  Brer  Rabbit  make  a  bow 
an*  say  he  been  raise  dat  a-waya 

"  But  'fos  Brer  Rabbit  went  in  de  yuther  holier 
he  made  sho  dat  dey  wuz  mo'  dan  one  way  er 
gittin*  out.  He  went  in  dar,  f  he  did,  an*  scratch  a- 
bout  an'  make 
a  new  bed,  an* 
den  he  git  in 
it  fer  ter  git  it 
warm.  He  set 
dar  wid  one 
eye  open  an* 
t'er  one  shot. 
He  9ot  so  stuH 
dat  or  Miss 
Buzzard  got 
de  idee  dat  he 

'  iR-  aoi  $o  ttiM  dat  ci    Af  **» 
gone     abroad,  Bvszard  got  de  Met  tat  he  gome  abrouz. 


iM  TOLD  BY  UNv^fi  REMUS 

on*  so  when  her  chillun  cry  fer  dey  dinner,  she 
say*  'Don't  cry,  honey  babies;  mammy  gwii*"! 

r)  ter  git   you  a 

good  warm 
dinner  '  f  o< ' 
long,  an'  it  '11 
be  fresh  meaf;s 
too,  you  kirn 
'pen'  on  dat/ 
De  chillun,  dejr 
cry  wuss  at  din, 
kaze  dey  sb 
hongry  dey 
don't  wan  ter 
wait  a  minnifl. 
Dey  say, '  Git  fit 
now,  mammy  1  git  it  now!'  Ol*  Brer  Rabbit  wuz 
settin'  in  dar  lis'nin',  an*  he  low  ter  hisse'f ,  *  It  '11 
tas'e  mighty  good  when  you  does  git  it,  honey 
babies!'  Wid  dat,  he  skip  out  fum  dar,  an*  went 
®&  ter  his  iaughin'- place." 

*Atter  so  long  a  time,  ol'  Miss  Buzzard  went 
mnn'  ter  de  yuther  holler,  an*  peep  in.  Ef  Brer 


Weni  off  ter  his  iaughirC- place 


WHY  THE  TURKEY  BUZZARD  IS  BALD-HEADED  m 

Rabbit  had  V  been  in  dar,  she  wuz  gwineter  && 
*im  how  he  like  his  new  house,  but  he  wa'  n't  &^ 


"  8hs  *iai  mighty  glad  dat  Brer  Rabbit  waWl  dar  " 

an*  she  hove  a  long  breff ,  kaze  when  you  gwinete?: 
4o  mischief,  it  seem  like  everybody  know  what 


M0  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

you  gwineter  do.  Anyhow,  she  suz  mighty  glad 
dat  Brer  Rabbit  wa'  n't  dar  fer  ter  look  at  'er  wid 
his  pop-eyes.  Den  she  tell  her  chillun  dat  she 
gwine  off  atter  some  vittles,  an'  she  flop  'er  wings 
a  time  er  two,  an'  off  she  flew'd. 

"Dey  got  'long  tollable  well  dat  day  anv  de 
nex'  but  'twant  long  'fo'  der  craw  'gun  ter  feel 
like  a  win'-bag,  un'  den  dey  set  up  a  cry  fer  mo' 
zittles,  an'  der  mammy  ain't  got  no  vittles  fer  ter 
gi'  um.  Brer  Rabbit  went  abroad  mighty  soon  dat 
day,  an'  atter  he  bad  his  fill  er  fun  an'  turnip 
greens  he  come  home  an'  went  ter  bed.  He  went 
ter  bed,  he  did,  an'  went  ter  sleep,  but  he  ain't 
sleep  long,  kaze  he  hear  some  kinder  noise.    He 
wake  up,  an*  open  an*  shet  his  pop-eyes  kinder 
slow*  an'  wiggle  his  mouf  an'  nose.  He  kin  hear 
ol*  Miss  Buzzard  trompin'  roun'  at  his  front  door, 
kinder  hummin*  a  chune  ter  herself.   He  say, 
8H?\'o,  dar!  who  dat  projickin'  at  my  front  do'  ?* 
Ol'  Miss  Buzzard,  she  say9  *Take  yo'  res*,  Brer 
Rabbit;  'tain't  nobody  but  me.  I  got  de  idee  dat 
some  un  wuz  pirootin'  roun'  de  place,  an'  I  des 
got  up  fer  ter  see  dat  everything  wuz  all  right' 


WHY  THE  TURKEY  BUZZARD  IS  BALD-HEADED  I9t 

"  Brer  Rabbit  say,  '  It  's  mighty  dark  in  here/ 
an'  *  A  mighty  good  reason,'  sez  ol'  Miss  Buzzardf 
2*e'she,  'kaze  it 's  black  night  out  here,'  se'shei 


De  mornin  sun  wuz  shmin 

thoo  a  hwUhole  right  in 

Brer  Rabbifs  face  ** 


'you  can't  see  yo'  J  han*  befo'  you,*  se'she. 
Dis  make  Brer  Rabbit  laugh,  kaze  de  mornin'  sun 
Wuz  shinin'  thoo  a  knot-hole  right  in  Brer  Rab- 
bit's face.  He  laugh  an'  low  ter  hisse'f , '  Shoot  yo* 


168  TOLD  ^x   UNCLE  REMUS 

shekels,  ol'  'oman,  an'  shoot  um  hard,  kaze  you€  i 
gwineter  git  de  rough  een'  er  dis  business.  You 
hear  my  horn!'  He  hear  ol'  Miss  Buzzard  walkhV 
roun*  out  dar,  an*  he  holler  out, '  I  can't  git  out! 
I  b'lieve  it 's  daytime  out  dar,  an'  I  can't  git 
out!  Somebody  better  run  here  an'  he'p  me  ter 
git  out.  Some  un  done  lock  me  in  my  own 
bouse,  an'  I  can't  git  out !  Ain't  somebody 
gwineter  run  here  an'  turn  me  out!  I  can't  gfct 
a  breff  er  fresh  a'r/ 

"  Well,  ol'  Miss  Buzzard  ain't  got  no  mo'  sense 
dan  ter  b'lieve  Brer  Rabbit,  an'  she  wuz  des  cer- 
tain an'  sho  dat  he  wuz  her  meat.  She  say,  *  I  'in 
de  one  what  shet  you  up  in  dar,  an'  I  'm  gwine  ter 
keep  you  in  dar  twel  youer  done  dead,  an'  den 
I  '11  pull  de  meat  off  Jn  yo'  bones,  bofe  fat  an'  lean, 
an'  feed  my  chillun.  I  done  got  you  shot  up  wid  red 
clay  an'  white,  an'  I  'm  gwineter  keep  you  in  dar 
bofe  day  an'  night,  twel  you  ain't  got  no  breff 
in  you/  Wid  dat  she  went  in  her  own  house 
an'  sot  down  wid  'er  chillun  fer  ter  wait  an' 
see  what  gwineter  happen.  Brer  Rabbit  he  stay 
still  fer  de  longes',  kaze  he  one  er  de  mos'  fidg- 


WHY  THE  TUKKE\   Lo^AKD  IS  BALD-HEADED  1- 

«tty  creeturs  you  yever  is  lay  yo'  eyes  on.  He 
stay  right  still,  he  did,  twel  ol*  Miss  Turkey 
Buzzard  git  tired  er  waitin*  an*  come  out  fer 
ter  promenade  up  an*  down  'fo'  Brer  Rabbit 
tront  do'. 

"  He  hear  de  ol'  huzzy,  an'  he  say,  *  I  know  yois 
des  jokin'  wid  me,  Sis  Buzzard;  please,  ma'am, 
le'  me  out.  My  breff  gittin'  shorter,  an'  dish  yer  a?i 
wTiat  in  here  smell  mos'  ez  bad  ez  what  yo'  breff 
cto.  Please,  ma'am,  make  'as'e  an'  let  me  out.'  Den 
she  got  mad.  *  My  breff,  I  hear  you  say!  Well,  'fo' 
I  git  thoo  wid  you,  you  won't  have  no  breff  —  I 
prommus  you  dat.'  Atter  ol'  Miss  Buzzard  went 
back  in  her  part  er  de  house,  Brer  Rabbit  tuck  a 
notion  dat  he  'd  git  out  er  dar,  an'  pay  'er  back 
fer  de  ol'  an'  de  new.  An'  out  er  his  back  door  he 
went.  He  ain't  take  time  fer  ter  go  ter  de  laughin*- 
place  —  no,  suh !  not  him.  Stidder  dat  de  put  off 
ter  whar  he  know'd  Mr.  Man  had  been  cle'rin'  up 
a  new  groun\  Dey  wuz  a  tin  bucket  what  Mr* 
Man  had  gone  off  an'  forgot,  an'  Brer  Rabbit 
tuck  dat  an'  fill  it  full  er  red-hot  embers,  an'  went 
sailin'  back  home  wid  it. 


170  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

"  When  he  git  dar,  he  stuck  his  head  in  Misa 
Buzzard  do*,  an*  low,  *  Peep-eye,  Sis  Buzzard!  I 
hope  you  done  had  yo'  dinner  ter  day,  an'  ef  you 
ain't  I  got  it  right  here  fer  you  an'  you  mo'  dan 
welcome  ter  all  dat  's  in  it.  He  ain't  mo'  dan  got 
de  words  out  'n  his  mouf,  'fo'  oP  Miss  Buzzard 
flew'd  out  at  'im  des  like  she  flew'd  out  at  you,  de 
yuther  day.  She  flew'd  out,  she  did,  but  she  ain't 
flew'd  fur  'fo'  she  got  de  hot  ashes  over  her  head 
an'  neck,  an'  de  way  she  hopp'd  'roun* 
wuz  so  scandalious  dat  folks 
calls  dat  kinder  doin's  de 
buzzard-dance  down  ter 
dis  day  an'  time. 
"  Some  er  de  ashes  got  on 
on  de  little  buzzards,  an' 
fum  dat  time  on  none 
er  de  buzzard  tribe  is 
had  any  ha'r  er  fed- 
ders  on  der  head, 
an*  not  much  on  der 
neck.  An'ef  you  look 

k  She  got  de  hot  ashes  over  her  head  .  ,    ,  .       • 

and  neck-  at    Um    Tight    Close, 


WHY  THE  TURKEY  BUZZARD  IS  BALD-HEADED  171 

you  '11  fin'  dat  I  'm  V  tellin'  you  de  plain  trufe. 
Dey  look  so  ba'r  on  der  head  an'  neck  dat  you 
wanter  gi'  um  a  piece  &  rag  fer  to  tie  roun*  it  tei 
keep  um  f  um  ketchin'  col*. " 


BROTHER   DEER   AN*   KING   SUN*S   DAUGHTER 

IT  is  only  fair  to  say  that  the  little  boy  — - 
came  to  the  plantation  somewhat  preju- 
diced. His  mother,  had  never  known  the 
advantages  of  association  with  the  old-time  ne- 
groes, and  was  a  great  stickler  for  accuracy  of 
speech.  She  was  very  precise  in  the  use  of  English, 
and  could  not  abide  the  simple  dialect  in  which 
the  stories  had  been  related  to  the  little  boy's 
father.  She  was  so  insistent  in  this  matter  that  the 
child's  father,  when  asked  for  a  story  such  as 
Uncle  Remus  had  told  him,  thought  it  best  to 
avoid  the  dialect  that  he  knew  so  well.  In  conse- 
quence, the  essence  of  the  stories  was  dissipated 
for  the  child,  and  he  lacked  the  enthusiasm  which 
Uncle  Remus  had  hoped  to  find. 

But  this  enthusiasm  came  by  degrees  as  Uncle 
Remus  wandered  from  one  tale  to  another.  The 

172 


BROTHER  DEER  AN'  KING  SUN'S  DAUGHTER  173 
child  never  told  his  mother  how  he  enjoyed  the 
stories,  and  yet  he  came  to  play  the  part  that  had 
been  played  by  his  father  long  before  he  was 
iborn,  and  matters  came  to  such  a  pass,  that,  if  he 
^as  long  with  Uncle  Remus  without  hearing  a 
story,  he  straightway  imagined  that  the  old  man 
was  angry  or  out  of  sorts.  The  lad  was  gaining  in 
health  and  strength  every  day  he  remained  on  the 
plantation,  and  in  consideration  of  this  fact — 
and  as  the  result  of  wise  diplomacy  of  Uncle 
Remus  —  the  child's  mother  relaxed  the  disci- 
pline that  she  had  thought  necessary  for  his  wel~ 
fare,  so  that  not  many  weeks  elapsed  before  his 
cheeks  became  ruddy  with  health.  Uncle  Remus 
hailed  him  as  a  town  rowdy,  and  declared  that 
the  plantation  would  soon  be  too  small  to  hold 
him. 

"I  pity  yo'  gran'ma,"  said  Uncle  Remus, 
"  kaze  ef  you  stay  roun'  here,  she  '11  hatter  buy  all 
de  'j'inin'  plantations  ef  she  gwineter  keep  you 
on  her  Ian'. " 

There  was  no  more  corn  to  be  hauled,  but  there 
was  harness  to  be  mended,  and  the  little  boy,  sit- 


174  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

ting  on  a  high  stool  in  the  workshop,  or  leaning 
against  Uncle  Remus,  watched  the  operation 
with  great  interest.  He  observed  one  day  that  the 
old  man  was  frowning  darkly.  His  forehead  was 
puckered  into  knots  and  seamed  with  wrinkles 
that  did  not  belong  there,  and  his  eyebrows  were 
drawn  together  over  his  nose. 

"  "What  is  the  matter  with  you,  Uncle  Remus  ? 
Are  you  angry,  or  are  you  going  to  cry?'* 

"  I  '11  tell  you  de  truf e,  honey.  I  'm  mighty  nigh 
on  de  p'int  er  cryin'.  You  see  my  face  puckered 
up,  don't  you  ?  Well,  ef  you  had  ez  much  on  yo* 
min'  ez  what  I  got  on  mine,  you  'd  be  boohooin* 
same  ez  a  baby.  I  tell  you  dat.  An'  des  ter  show 
you  dat  I  'm  in  deep  trouble,  I  '11  ax  you  ter  tell 
me  how  many  times  dey  is. " 

"  How  many  times  ?  How  many  times  what  ?  " 
the  child  inquired. 

Uncle  Remus  regarded  him  sorrowfully,  and 
then  returned  to  his  work  with  a  heavy  sigh. 
"Did  I  ax  you  'bout  what?  No,  I  ain't;  I  ax'd 
you  'bout  times.  I  say  ez  plain  ez  writin' :  *  How 
many  times  is  dey  ?'  an'  you  'spon',  '  How  man^ 


BROTHER  DEER  AN'  KING  SUN'S  DAUGHTER  17$ 
times  what  ? '  It  look  mighty  funny  ter  me.  Dar's 
daytime  an'  night-time,  bedtime  an'  meal-time, 
an'  some  time  an'  no  time,  an'  high  time  an'  fly 
time,  an'  long  time  an'  wrong  time,  'simmon  time 
an'  plum  time.  Dey  ain't  no  use  er  talkin';  it 's 
nuff  fer  ter  make  yo'  head  swim.  I  been  tryin'  fer 
ter  count  um  up,  but  de  mo'  I  count  um  up  de 
mo'  dey  is." 

The  little  boy  looked  at  the  old  man  with  a 
half-smile  on  his  face.  He  was  plainly  puzzled, 
but  he  did  n't  like  to  admit  it  even  to  himself. 
"Why  do  you  want  to  know  how  many  times 
there  are?"  he  asked. 

"Kaze  I  wanter  live  an'  l'arn, "  replied  Uncle 
Remus.  "Le'  me  see,  "he  went  on,  puckering  his 
face  again.  "  Dars  de  ol'  time  an'  de  new  time,  de 
col'  time  an'  de  due  time  —  bless  yo'  soul,  honey, 
I  can't  count  um  up.  No,  suh;  you  '11  hatter 
skusen    me!" 

He  paused  and  looked  at  the  little  boy  to  see 
what  the  child  could  make  out  of  all  he  had 
said. 

He  saw  nothing  in  the  small  countenance  but 


176  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

curiosity.  <k  What  made  you  think  of  it  ?  "  was  the 
question  the  child  asked. 

"Mos'  eve'y  tiring  I  see  make  me  think  'bout  it, 
an'  you  '11  think  'bout  it  you'se'f,  when  you  come 
ter  be  ol'  ez  what  I  is.  But  de  reason  it  wuz  run- 
nin'  in  my  head  dis  time  wuz  kaze  I  start  ter  tell  a 
tale  widout  knowin'  when  de  time  wuz.  I  know  it 
wuz  'way  back  yander,  but  de  mont'  er  de  year  I 
can't  tell,  an'  when  I  try  ter  fix  on  de  time  eve'y- 
thing  look  dim  an'  smoky,  an'  I  say  ter  myse'f 
dat  dey  mus'  be  a  fog  in  my  mind.  " 

"Can't  you  tell  the  story  unless  you  can  find 
out  about  the  time?"  inquired  the  little  bey. 

"Tooby  sho'  I  kin,  honey;  but  you  'd  b'lieve  it 
lots  quicker  ef  you  know'd  what  time  it  happen. 
'Fo'  yo'  great-gran'ma  died  she  had  a  trunk  full 
er  ollymenacks,  an'  I  boun'  you  ef  I  had  'em  here 
whar  you  could  look  at  um,  we  would  n't  have  no 
trouble.  I  speck  dey  done  got  strow'd  about 
endurin'  er  de  war  time. 

"Well,  anyhow,  once  'pon  a  time,  when  dey 
wuz  mighty  few  folks  in  de  worl',  ef  any,  Brer 
Deer  fell  in  love  wid  ol'  King  Sun's  daughter. ' 


BROTHER  DEER  AN'  KING  SUN'fcf  DAUGHTER  177 
Having  made  this  preliminary  statement,  Uncle 
Remus  paused  to  see  what  effect  it  had  on  the 
child.  Amazement  and  incredulity  were  written 
on  the  little  boy's  face,  observing  which  the  old 
man  smiled.  "You  nee'nter  git  de  idee  in  yo* 
head  dat  ol'  King  Sun  is  like  he  wuz  in  dem  days. 
No,  bless  you!  He  wuz  des  ez  diffunt  ez  dem 
times  wuz  fum  deze  times,  an*  when  you  git  *er 
jeadin'  in  de  books  you  '11  fin'  out  what  de 
diffunce  wuz.  He  wuz  closer  by,  an'  he  ain't  hide 
out  at  night  like  he  does  now.  He  wuz  up  in  de 
«ky,  but  he  ain't  live  ez  high  up;  he  wuz  mo' 
neighborly,  ez  you  maj  say. 

"He  live  so  close  by  dat  he  useter  sen'  de 
house-gal  down  ter  de  spring  fer  drinkin'-water. 
Three  times  a  day  she  'd  come  ter  fetch  it;  she  'd 
clime  down  wid  de  bucket  in  her  han'  an'  she  'd 
clime  back  wid  de  bucket  on  her  head,  an'  she  'd 
sing  bofe  ways,  comin'  an*  gwine.  In  dem  times 
dey  all  know  'd  dat  ol'  King  Sun  had  a  daughter, 
but  dey  ain't  know  what  'er  name  is;  an'  dey 
know  she  wuz  purty.  Well,  Brer  Deer  he  hear  talk 
un  'er,  an'  he  tuck  a  notion  dat  he  gwineter  mar- 


178  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

ry  'er,  but  he  dunner  how  he  gwineter  git  up  dar 
whar  she  live  at.  He  study  an'  study,  but  he  can't 
fin'  no  way. 

"  He  was  settin'  down  by  de  road  studyin'  out  a 
plan  fer  ter  git  word  ter  de  gal,  when  oF  Brer 
Rabbit  come  lopin'  down  de  lane.  He  mus'  a  been 
playin'  hoss,  kaze  when  he  see  Brer  Deer,  he  shied 
an'  sneezed,  he  did,  an'  make  like  he  gwineter 
run  away.  But  he  ain't  run.  He  pass  de  time  er 
day  wid  Brer  Deer  an'  ax  'im  how  his  copper- 
osity  seem  to  segashuate.  Brer  Deer  'low  dat  his 
copperosity  is  segashuatin'  all  right,  but  he  got 
trouble  in  his  min'  an'  he  can't  git  it  out.  He 
looked  mighty  sollumcolly  when  he  say  dis,  an 
Brer  Rabbit  say  he  sorry. 

"He  sot  down,  Brer  Rabbit  did,  an'  cross  his 
legs,  an'  rub  his  chin  same  like  de  doctor  do  when 
he  gwineter  slap  a  dose  er  bitter  truck  on  yo'  in- 
sides.  He  rub  his  chin,  he  did,  an'  look  like  he 
know  all  dey  is  fer  ter  be  know'd.  He  say,  *  Brer 
Deer,  when  I  wuz  growin'  up  I  useter  hear  de  oF 
folks  say  dat  a  light  heart  made  a  long  life,  an* 
J  b'lieve  um,  I  sho'  does.  Dey  know'd  what  dey 


BROTHER  DEER  AN*  KING  SON'S  DAUGHTER      Wi 

was  talkin"  bout,  kaze  I  done  had  de  speunce  u& 
it 

"Brer  Deer  shuck  his  head  an'  grieve  Ef  he  M 
V  had  a  hankcher,  he  'a'  had  need  un  it  right  den, 
mi  dar,  but  he  wink  his  eye  fas'  fer  ter  git  de  tears 
out  sn  urn.  He  'low,  61  speck  youer  tellin'  me  d€ 
toufe,  Brer  Rabbit,  but  I  can*t  he*p  it  ef  you  is.  I 
am  what  I  am*  an*  I  can't  be  no  ammer.  1 
feels  mo*  like  eryin'  dan  I  does  like  eatin*,  an* 
I'm  dat  fractious  dat  I  can't  skacely  see  straight 
01*  Mr.  Ram  tol*  me  howdy  a  while  ago,  an*  1 
ain't  done  a  thing  but  run  at  "im  an'  butt  him 
sXonchways*  You  nee'nter  tell  me  dat  I  ain*t  got 
no  business  fer  ter  do  dat  a- way;  I  des  can  t  he  p 
it* 

"Brer  Rabbit  kinder  edge  hisse'f  away  turn. 
Brer  Deer.  He  say,  "Dat  bein*  de  case,  Brer 
Deer,  I  speck  I  better  gi*  you  mo*  room  When  I 
lef  home  dis  mornin*  my  ol*  *oman  *low.  "You 
better  take  keer  er  yo'se'f,  honey,"  an*  I'm 
gwineter  do  dat  identual  thing.  1  dunno  dat  I  *m 
skeered  er  gittin*  hurted,  but  I  'm  monstus 
ticklish  when  de  horned  creeturs  is  rounV  BreE 


m  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

JOeer  say:  *You  nee'nter  be  feared  er  me,  Bret 
Rabbit.  I  been  knowin'  you  a  long  time,  an' 
many  \s  de  night  dat  we  bofe  graze  in  de  sain* 
pasiur*,  you  a-nibblin'  on  de  green  grass  an  ma 
a-erappin*  it.  I  'm  monstuaglad  I  run  'cross  you, 
Kaze  ef  I  can't  tell  my  troubles  ter  some  un,  I 
b'lieve  in  my  soul  I  '11  bust  wide  open.' 

5*Wid  dat  Brer  Deer  went  on  fer  ter  tell  Brei 
iiabbit  dat  lie  done  fell  dead  in  love  wid  ol'  King 
Sun*s  daughter.  He  dunner  how  come  it  ter  be  so, 
but  anyhow  so  it  is.  He  ain't  had  no  talk  wid  *eir; 
he  ain't  mo*  dan  cotch  a  glimp'  er  de  gal,  yit  dar 
he  wuz  dead  in  love  wid  'er.  Brer  Rabbit  moughfc 
iaugh  at  *im  ef  he  wanter;  he  '11  des  set  dar  an* 
lake  it.  He  talk  an*  talk,  he  did,  twel  Brer  Rabbit 
got  right  sorry  fer  'im.  He  sot  dar,  he  did,  an' 
study,  an'  he  tell  Brer  Deer  dat  he  '11  he'p  'im  ef 
he  kin,  an*  he  mos'  know  he  kin. 

**Brer  Deer  raise  his  head,  an'  open  his  eyes, 
He  say,  '  Brer  Rabbit,  you  'stonish  me  —  you 
sho*  does.  Ef  you  '11  he'p  me  out  in  dis,  I  '11  stan' 
by  you  thoo  thick  an'  thin.'  But  Brer  Rabbit  say 
he  «in't  doin'  it  fer  no  pay;  he  done  lay  by  hia 


3W  Yf«f 


1 

5 


Brer  Deer  went  on  fer  ter  tell  Brer  Rabbit " 


BEOTHEB  DEER  AN'  KING  SUN'S  DAUGHTER     IS! 

crap,  an*  he  ain't  got  nothin3  much  ter  do,  an*  he 
gay  he  '11  he'p  Brer  Deer  des  fer  ter  keep  his  han* 
in.  Brer  Deer  look  like  he  wuz  might'ly  holp  up. 
Fust  he  smole  a  smile,  an'  den  he  broke  out  in  a 
laugh.  He  say,  *  Youer  de  man  fer  my  money!* 

**Brer  Rabbit  kinder  wiggle  his  nose.  He  say, 
5  £f  you  keep  yo*  money  twel  you  think  you  got 
too  much,  you  '11  have  it  by  you  fer  many  a  long 
year  ter  come. '  Wid  dat,  he  got  up  an'  bresh  de 
dus'  off  'n  his  britches,  an*  shuck  ban's  wid  Brer 
D"^t\  He  say,  *I  hope  fer  ter  have  some  good 
news  fer  you  de  nex*  time  we  meet  in  de  big 
road.'  He  bowed,  he  did,  an*  den  off  he  put, 
iippity-clip.  He  look  back  fer  ter  see  ef  Brer  Deer 
wuz  foUerin'  'im,  but  Brer  Deer  had  sense  'nuff 
fer  ter  hunt  'im  a  cool  place  in  de  woods,  whar  he 
kin  take  de  fust  nap  what  he  had  in  many  a  night 
an'  day. 

u  Brer  Rabbit  lope  off  todes  de  spring,  itaze  he 
know'd  dat  de  spring  wuz  de  place  whar  King 
Sun's  house-gal  come  atter  water  —  an'  she 
hatter  tote  a  mighty  heap  un  it.  It  look  like  de 
mo'  water  what  King  Sun  drunk  de  mo'  he  wanty 


S62  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

an'  dat  beiir  de  case,  de  gal  had  'bout  ez  much 
totin'  ez  she  kin  do.  Brer  Rabbit  went  down  ter 
de  spring,  but  dey  wa'  n't  nobody  dar,  an'  he  look 
b  it  an'  see  hisse'f  in  de  water.  Dar  he  wuz,  Ms 
■ha* r  all  comb,  his  face  clean,  an*  he  look  slicke* 
dan  sin.  He  laugh,  he  did*  an?  say  ter  de  Rabbit 
what  he  see  in  de  water,  'You  sho'  is  mighty 
good-lookin\  whoever  you  is,  an*  ef  you  blam^ 
anybody,  don't  blame  me,  kaze  I  can't  he'p  it.' 

"Now,  down  at  de  bottom  er  de  spring  wuz  ol* 
man  Spring  Lizzard.  He  wuz  takin*  his  mornin* 
isap,  when  we  hear  some  un  talkin*.  He  raise  up, 
he  did,  an*  lissen;  den  he  look  an'  see  Brer  R&b* 
bit  iookin'  at  hisse'f  in  de  water,  an'  he  holler  oul, 
*  Maybe  you  ain't  ez  good-loo  kin*  ez  you  think 
you  is.  *  Brer  Rabbit  holler  back, '  Hello,  dar!  diia 
is  de  fus  time  I  know  'd  dat  yo*  shadder  in  do 
water  kin  talk  back  at  you.* 

**  Wid  dat,  Mr.  Spring  Lizzard  come  f um  unde/ 
de  green  moss,  an*  float  ter  de  top  er  de  water, 
He  pass  de  time  er  day  wid  Brer  Rabbit,  an5  ax 
'im  whar  he  gwine,  an*  what  he  gwine  ter  do 
when  he  git  dar.  Brer  Rabbit  *low  dat  he  trym ' 


BROTHER  DEER  AN'  KING  SUN'S  DAUGHTER  183 
fer  ter  do  a  good  turn  ter  a  f rien'  what 's  in  trouble* 
an'  den  he  went  on  an'  toP  de  oP  Spring  Lizzard 
'bout  Brer  Deer  an'  King  Sun's  daughter.  De 
Spring  Lizzard  say  she  's  a  mighty  likely  gal, 
*aze  he  seed  her  one  time  when  she  slip  off  an" 
come  wid  de  house-gal  atter  water.  He  say  she  got 
long  ha'r  dat  look  like  spun  silk,  an'  eyes  dat 
shine  like  de  mornin'  star. 

"  Brer  Rabbit  say  he  don't  'spute  it,  but  what 
he  wanter  know  is  how  he  kin  git  word  ter  King 
Sun  'bout  Brer  Deer.  De  Spring  Lizzard  say  dat's 
easy.  He  say  dat  when  de  house-gal  come  atter 
water,  she  hatter  let  down  de  step-ladder,  an* 
Brer  Rabbit  kin  slip  by  'er  an'  go  up,  er  he  hisse'f 
kin  git  in  de  bucket  an'  go  up.  Brer  Rabbit  say  he 
kinder  jub'us  'bout  gwine,  kaze  he  's  a  kinder 
home  body,  an'  den  de  Spring  Lizzard  'low  dat 
ef  Brer  Deer  will  write  a  note,  he  '11  take  it. 

"  Well,  Brer  Deer  can't  write  an'  Brer  Rabbit 
kin;  so  dey  fix  it  up  'twix'  um,  an'  'twant  long 
*fo'  dey  had  de  note  writ,  an'  Brer  Rabbit  tuck  it 
an'  gi'  it  ter  de  Spring  Lizzard.  He  say, '  Don't  let 
it  git  wet,  whatever  you  does,'  and  de  Spring  Liz- 


184  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

zard  ax  how  it  gwineter  git  wet  when  he  put  it  in 
his  pocket  ?  He  say  dat  eve'ybody  but  him,  de 
fishes  an'  de  frogs  got  a  wrong  idee  'bout  water, 
kaze  'tain't  wet  ez  it  mought  be,  'ceppin'  on  a 
rainy  day. 

6'  Time  went  on  des  like  it  do  now;  night  swung 
by  an'  day  swung  in,  an'  here  come  King  Sun's 
Iiouse-gal  atter  a  bucket  er  water.  She  let  down 
de  step-ladder  an'  come  singin'  ter  de  spring.  She 
drapped  her  bucket  in,  an'  de  Spring  Lizzard 
stepped  in,  an'  crope  roun'  ter  whar  de  shadder 
wuz  de  heaviest.  De  gal  clomb  up  de  step-ladder, 
an'  pulled  it  atter  her,  an'  went  'long  de  path  ter 
King  Sun's  house.  She  took  de  water  in  de  settin'- 
room  fer  ter  gi'  King  Sun  a  fresh  drink,  an'  he 
grabbed  up  de  gourd  an'  drunk  an'  drunk  twel  it 
look  like  he  gwineter  bust.  Atter  dat  he  went  in 
de  liberry,  an'  de  Spring  Lizzard  crope  out  an' 
lef  Brer  Deer  note  on  de  table,  an'  den  he  crope 
back  in  de  bucket. 

"Atter  whil<?,  King  Sun's  daughter  come 
bouncin'  in  de  room  atter  a  drink  er  water,  an' 
she  see  de  note.  She  grab  it  up  an'  read  it,  an'  den 


BROTHER  DEER  AN*  KING  SUN'S  DAUGHTER      185 

she  holler: '  Pa,  oh,  pa!  here's  a  letter  fer  you,  ao' 
I  mos'  know  dey*s  sump'n  in  it  'bout  me!  La!  I 
dunner  who  't  is  dat  's  got  de  impidence  fer  ter 
put  my  name  in  a  letter.'  OF  King  Sun  run  his 
fingers  thoo  his  beard,  des  like  he  combin'  it,  an9 
den  he  cle'r  up  his  th'oat.  He  take  de  letter  an'  hoP 
it  off  fum  'im,  an*  den  put  on  his  specks.  He  'low, 
*  Well,  well,  well !  who'd  a  thunk  it  ?'  an'  den  he 
look  at  his  daughter.  She  look  at  de  flo'  an'  pat 
'er  foot.  He  say,  '  I  ain't  never  hear  er  sech  im- 
pidence.' De  gal  'low,  *  What  do  he  say,  pa  ?'  Wid 
dat,  he  han'  'er  de  letter,  an'  when  she  read  it, 
she  got  red  in  de  face,  an'  den  she  got  white.  She 
think  one  way,  an'  den  she  think  an'er.  She  got 
mad  an'  she  got  glad,  an'  den  she  had  de  all- 
overs,  des  like  gals  does  deze  days  when  some  un 
ax  um  fer  ter  have  um. 

"  So  den,  dar  'twuz;  Brer  Deer  want  ter  marry 
de  gal,  an'  de  gal  dunner  whedder  she  wanter 
marry  er  not.  Den  oF  King  Sun  got  his  pen,  an* 
put  a  little  water  in  de  ink,  kaze  it  wuz  mighty 
nigh  dried  up,  an'  den  he  writ  a  letter  back  ter 
Brer  Deer.  He  say  dat  ef  de  one  what  writ  de  let- 


136  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

ter  wiil  sen'  'im  a  bag  er  gold,  he  kin  have  de  gal. 
He  fol"  de  letter  up  an'  han'  it  ter  de  gal,  an*  she 
not  knowin'  what  else  ter  do,  tuck  an'  put  it  on 
de  table  whar  she  fin'  de  yuther  one. 

"De  Spring  Lizzard  had  his  eye  on  'er,  an* 
when  she  went  out  'n  de  room,  he  clomb  up  on 
de  table  an'  got  de  letter,  an'  went  back  in  de 
bucket  ag'in.  Dat  evenin'  de  house-gal  hatter 
fetch  water  f er  de  night,  an'  she  let  down  de  step- 
ladder  an'  went  ter  de  spring.  When  she  dip  de 
bucket  in,  de  Spring  Lizzard,  he  slide  out,  an* 
went  ter  his  bed  un'  de  long  green  moss.  'Twant 
long  'fo'  Brer  Rabbit  had  de  letter,  an'  atter  dat, 
'twant  no  time  'fo'  Brer  Deer  know  M  what  de 
intents  wuz.  'Twix'  an'  'tween  um  dey  got  up  a 
bag  er  gold,  an'  Brer  Rabbit  tuck  it  ter  de  spring 
whar  de  house-gal  got  water. 

"De  nex'  mornin'  de  daughter  come  'erse'f, 
kaze  she  wanter  see  what  kinder  man  Brer  Deer 
is.  At  de  spring  she  fin'  a  bag  er  gold.  She  clap  'er 
han's  an'  holler  out:  'Look  what  I  fin*  —  fin5, 
fin',  fin'y!  It 's  min'  —  min',  min',  min'y!'  Brer 
Rabbit  wuz  settin'  in  de  bushes,  an'  Brer  Dee* 


BROTHER  DEER  AN'  KING  SUN'S  DAUGHTER      187 

wa'  n't  fur  off,  an'  dey  bofe  watch  de  gal  a- 
prancin'  an'  dancin' ;  an'  den,  bimeby  Brer  Deer 
went  out  whar  she  kin  see  'im,  an'  he  des  walk  up 
ter  'er  an'  say,  'Look  what  I  fin';  honey,  youer 
mine! '  An'  dat  'uz  de  way  Brer  Deer  got  oP  King 
Sun's  daughter." 


BROTHER  RABBIT  S  CRADLE 

I  WISH  you  'd  tell  me  what  you  tote  a  hank- 
cher  fer,"  remarked  Uncle  Remus,  after  he 
had  reflected  over  the  matter  a  little  while. 
"Why,  to  keep  my  mouth  clean,"  answered 
the  little  boy. 

Uncle  Remus  looked  at  the  lad,  and  shook  his 
head  doubtfully.  "Uh-uh!"  he  exclaimed.  "You 
can't  fool  folks  when  dey  git  ez  ol'  ez  what  1  is.  I 
been  watchin'  you  now  mo'  days  dan  I  kin  count, 
an'  I  ain't  never  see  yo'  mouf  dirty  'nuff  fer  ter  be 
wiped  wid  a  hankcher.  It  's  allers  clean  —  too 
clean  ter  suit  me.  Dar's  yo'  pa,  now;  when  he  wuz 
a  little  chap  like  you,  his  mouf  useter  git  dirty  in  de 
mornin'  an'  stay  dirty  plum  twel  night.  Dey  wa'n't 
sca'cely  a  day  dat  he  did  n't  look  like  he  been 
playin'  wid  de  pigs  in  de  stable  lot.  Ef  he  yever 
is  tote  a  hankcher,  he  ain't  never  show  it  ter  me. " 

183 


BROTHER  RABBIT'S  CRADLE  189 

"He  carries  one  now,"  remarked  the  little  boy 
with  something  like  a  triumphant  look  on  his 
face. 

"  Tooby  sho', "  said  Uncle  Remus ;  "  tooby  sho* 
he  do.  He  start  ter  totin'  one  when  he  tuck  an' 
tuck  a  notion  fer  ter  go  a-courtin'.  It  had  his  name 
in  one  cornder,  an'  he  useter  sprinkle  it  wid  stuff 
out'n  a  pepper-sauce  bottle.  It  sho'  wuz  rank,  dat 
stuff  wuz;  it  smell  so  sweet  it  make  you  fergit 
whar  you  live  at.  I  take  notice  dat  you  ain't  got 
aone  on  yone. " 

"No;  mother  says  that  cologne  or  any  kind  of 
perfumery  on  your  handkerchief  makes  you 
common. " 

Uncle  Remus  leaned  his  nead  back,  closed  his 
eyes,  and  permitted  a  heartrending  groan  to  issue 
from  his  lips.  The  little  boy  showed  enough  anx- 
iety to  ask  him  what  the  matter  was.  "Nothin* 
much,  honey;  I  wuz  des  tryin'  fer  ter  count  how 
many  diffunt  kinder  people  dey  is  in  dis  big  worl', 
an'  'fo'  I  got  mo'  dan  half  done  wid  my  countin',  a 
pain  struck  me  in  my  mizry,  an'  I  had  ter  break 
off." 


190  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

"I  know  what  you  mean,"  said  the  child. 
"  You  think  mother  is  queer;  grandmother  thinks 
so  too." 

"  How  come  you  ter  be  so  wise,  honey  ?  "  Uncle 
Remus  inquired,  opening  his  eyes  wide  with  as- 
tonishment. 

"  I  know  by  the  way  you  talk,  and  by  the  way 
grandmother  looks  sometimes,"  answered  the 
little  boy. 

Uncle  Remus  said  nothing  for  some  time. 
When  he  did  speak,  it  was  to  lead  the  little  boy  to 
believe  that  he  had  been  all  the  time  engaged  in 
thinking  about  something  else.  "  Talkin'  er  dirty 
folks,"  he  said,  "you  oughter  seed  yo'  pa  when 
he  wuz  a  little  bit  er  chap.  Dey  wuz  long  days 
when  you  could  n't  tell  ef  he  wuz  black  er  white, 
he  wuz  dat  dirty.  He  'd  come  out'n  de  big  house 
in  de  mornin'  ez  clean  ez  a  new  pin,  an'  'fo'  ten 
er-clock  you  could  n't  tell  what  kinder  clof  his 
cloze  wuz  made  out'n.  Many  's  de  day  when  I  've 
seed  oF  Miss  —  dat 's  yo'  great-gran'mammy  — 
comb  'nuff  trash  out'n  his  head  fer  ter  fill  a  bas- 
ket." 


BROTHER  RABBITS  CRADLE  Iff* 

The  little  boy  laughed  at  the  picture  thai 
Uncle  Remus  drew  of  his  father.  "He  's  very 
clean  now, "  said  the  lad  loyally. 

"Maybe  he  is  an'  maybe  he  ain't,"  remarked 
Uncle  Remus,  suggesting  a  doubt.  "  Dat's  needer 
bere  ner  dar,  Is  he  anv  better  off  clean  dan  what 

m 

he  wuz  when  you  could  n't  put  yo*  han's  on  'im 
widout  havin'  ter  go  an'  wash  um?  Yo'  gran'- 
niammy  useter  call  'im  a  pig,  an'  clean  ez  he  may 
be  now,  I  take  notice  dat  he  makes  mo*  com- 
plaint er  headache  an'  de  heartburn  dan  what  he 
done  when  he  wuz  runnin'  roun'  here  half-naked" 
an'  full  er  mud.  I  hear  tell  dat  some  nights  he 
can't  git  no  sleep,  but  when  he  wuz  little  like  you 
— no,  suh,  I  '11  not  say  dat,  bekaze  he  wuz  bigger 
dan  what  you  is  fum  de  time  he  kin  toddle  roun' 
widout  nobody  he'pin'  him ;  but  when  he  wuz  ol* 
ez  you  an'  twice  ez  big,  dey  ain't  nar ry  night  dat  he 
can't  sleep  —  an'  not  only  all  night,  but  half  de , 
day  ef  dey  'd  'a'  let  'im.  Dey  ought  ter  let  you 
run  roun'  here  like  he  done,  an'  git  dirty.  Dey 
ain't  nothin'  mo'  wholesomer  dan  a  peck  er  two 
e r  clean  dirt  on  a  little  chap  like  you. " 


SOI  TOLD  BY  UNCUE  EEMDS 

There  is  no  telling  what  comment  the  child 
would  have  made  on  this  sincere  tribute  to  clean 
dirt,  for  his  attention  was  suddenly  attracted  to 
something  that  was  gradually  taking  shape  in  the 
hands  of  Uncle  Remus.  At  first  it  seemed  to  be 
hardly  worthy  of  notice,  for  it  had  been  only  a 
thin  piece  of  board.  But  now  the  one  piece  had 
become  four  pieces,  two  long  and  two  short,  and 
under  the  deft  manipulations  of  Uncle  Remus  it 
soon  assumed  a  boxlike  shape. 

The  old  man  had  reached  the  point  of  his  work 
where  silence  was  necessary  to  enable  him  to  do  it 
full  justice.  As  he  fitted  the  thin  boards  together, 
a  whistling  sound  issued  from  his  lips,  as  though 
he  were  letting  off  steam;  but  the  singular  noise 
was  due  to  the  fact  that  he  was  completely  ab- 
sorbed in  his  work.  He  continued  to  fit  and 
trim,  and  trim  and  fit,  until  finally  the  little  boy 
*  could  no  "onger  restrain  his  curiosity.  "Unci* 
Remus,  what  are  you  making?"  he  asked 
plaintively. 

"Larroes  fer  ter  keen  meddlers,5"  was  the 
prompt  and  blunt  reply, 


BROTHER  RABBIT'S  CRADLE  l&S 

"Well,  what  are  larroes  to  catch  meddlers?*' 
the  child  insisted, 

**  Nothin'  much  an*  sump'n  mo'.  Dicky,  Dicky, 
killt  a  chicky,  an*  fried  it  quicky,  in  de  oven,  like 
a  sloven.  Den  ter  his  daddy's  Sunday  hat,  he  tuck 
"n*  hitched  de  ol'  black  cat.  Now  what  you  reckon 
make  him  do  dat  ?  Ef  you  can't  tell  me  word  fer 
word  an'  spellin'  fer  spellin'  we  '11  go  out  an* 
come  in  an'  take  a  walk. " 

He  rose,  grunting  as  he  did  so,  thus  paying  an 
unintentional  tribute  to  the  efficacy  of  age  as  the 
partner  of  rheumatic  aches  and  stiff  joints.  "  You 
hear  me  gruntin*, "  he  remarked  —  "  well,  dat 'i 
bekaze  I  ain't  de  chicky  fried  by  Dicky,  which  he 
e't  'nuff  fer  ter  make  'im  sicky."  As  he  went  out 
the  child  took  his  hand,  and  went  trotting  along 
by  his  side,  thus  affording  an  interesting  study  for 
those  who  concern  themselves  with  the  extremes 
of  life.  Hand  in  hand  the  two  went  out  into  thf 
fields,  and  thence  into  the  great  woods,  where 
Uncle  Remus,  after  searching  about  for  some 
time,  carefully  deposited  his  oblong  box,  remark- 
ing; "Ef  I  don't  make  no  mistakes,  dis  ain't  so 


194  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

mighty  fur  fum  de  place  whar  de  creeturs  has  del' 
playgroun',  an*  dey  ain't  no  tellin'  but  what  on<i 
un  um  '11  creep  in  dar  when  deyer  playin'  hidin', 
an'  ef  he  do,  he  '11  sho'  be  our  meat. " 
i  "  Oh,  it 's  a  trap ! "  exclaimed  the  little  boy,  hift 
face  lighting  up  with  enthusiasm. 

"  An'  dey  wa'  n't  nobody  here  fer  ter  tell  you!" 
Uncle  Remus  declared,  astonishment  in  his  tone. 
"  Well,  ef  dat  don't  bang  my  time,  I  ain't  no  fret* 
nigger.  Now,  ef  dat  had  'a'  been  yo'  pa  at  de  sannj 
age,  I  'd  'a'  had  ter  tel  'im  forty-lev'm  times,  an' 
den  he  would  n't  'a'  b'lieved  me  twel  he  see 
sump'n  in  dar  tryin'  fer  ter  git  out.  Den  he  '(1 
say  it  wuz  a  trap,  but  not  befo\  I  ain't  blamin' 
*im,"  Uncle  Remus  went  on,  "kaze  'tain't  eve'y 
chap  dat  kin  tell  a  trap  time  he  see  it,  an'  mo 
dan  dat,  traps  don'  allers  ketch  what  dey  er 
sot  fer. " 

He  paused,  looked  all  around,  and  up  in  the 
sky,  where  fleecy  clouds  were  floating  lazily 
along,  and  in  the  tops  of  the  trees,  where  the 
foliage  was  swaying  gently  in  the  breeze.  Then 
he  looked  at  the  little  boy.  "Ef  I  ain't  gone  an* 


BROTHER  kaBBIT'S  CRADLE  199 

got  los\  "  he  said,  "  we  ain't  so  mighty  fur  fum  de 
place  whar  Mr.  Man,  once  'pon  a  time  — -  not  yo' 
time  ner  yit  my  time,  but  some  time  — -  tuck  'n' 
sot  a  trap  fer  Brer  Rabbit.  In  dem  days,  dey 
had  n't  l'arnt  how  to  be  kyarpenters,  a&'  dish  yer 
trap  what  I'm  tellin'  you  'bout  wuz  a  great  big 
contraption.  Big  ez  Brer  Rabbit  wuz,  it  wuz  lots 
too  big  fer  him. 

"  Now,  whiles  Mr.  Man  wuz  fixin*  up  dis  trap, 
Mr.  Rabbit  wa'  n't  so  mighty  fur  off.  He  hear  de 
saw  —  er-rash!  er-rash!  —  an'  he  hear  de  ham- 
flier  —  bang,  bang,  bang!  —  an'  he  ax  hisse'f 
what  all  dis  racket  wuz  'bout.  He  see  Mr.  Man 
come  out'n  his  yard  totin'  sump'n,  an'  he  got 
furder  off;  he  see  Mr.  Man  comin'  todes  de 
bushes,  an'  he  tuck  ter  de  woods;  he  see 
'im  comin'  todes  de  woods,  an'  he  tuck  ter 
de  bushes.  Mr.  Man  tote  de  trap  so  fur 
an'  no  furder.  He  put  it  down,  he  did,  an' 
Brer  Rabbit  watch  'im;  he  put  in  de  bait,  an* 
Brer  Rabbit  watch  'im;  he  fix  de  trigger,  an' 
8  till  Brer  Rabbit  watch  'im.  Mr.  Man  look  at  de 
I  rap  an'  it  satchify  him.  He  look  at  it  an'  laugh, 


%M  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

an*  when  he  do  dat,  Brer  Rabbit  wunk  one  eye, 
an'  wiggle  his  mustache,  an'  chaw  his  cud. 

"An'  dat  ain't  all  he  do,  needer,  He  sot  out  in 
de  bushes,  he  did,  an'  study  how  ter  git  some 
game  in  de  trap.  He  study  so  hard,  an'  he  got  so 
errytated,  dat  he  thumped  his  behime  foot  on  de 
groun*  twel  it  soun*  like  a  cow  dancin*  out  dar  in 
de  bushes,  but  'twant  no  cow,  ner  yit  no  calf  — 
*twuz  des  Brer  Rabbit  studyin',,  Atter  so  long  a 
time,  he  put  out  down  de  road  todes  dat  part  er 
de  country  whar  mos'  er  de  creeturs  live  at, 
Eve'y  time  he  hear  a  fuss,  he  'd  dodge  in  de 
bushes,  kaze  he  wanter  see  who  comin*.  He  keep 
on  an'  he  keep  on,  an*  bimeby  he  hear  ol'  Brer 
Wolf  trottin'  down  de  road. 

**  It  so  happen  dat  Brer  Wolf  wuz  de  ve'y  one 
what  Brer  Rabbit  wanter  see.  Dey  was  perlite  ter 
one  an'er,  but  dey  wa'  n't  no  f rien'ly  feelin'  'twixt 
urn  Well,  here  come  ol'  Brer  Wolf,  hongrier  dan 
a  chicken-hawk  on  a  frosty  mornin',  an'  ez  he 
come  up  he  see  Brer  Rabbit  settin'  by  de  side  er 
de  road  lookin  like  he  done  los*  all  his  fambly 
an  his  friends  ter  boot 


BROTHER  RABBIT'S  CRADLE  19? 

'*  Dey  pass  de  time  er  day,  an5  den  Brer  Wolf 
kinder  grin  an'  say, '  Laws-a-massy,  Brer  Rabbits 
what  ail  you  ?  You  look  like  you  done  had  a  speli 
er  fever  an"  ague;  what  de  trouble?'  *  Trouble, 
Brer  Wolf?  You  ain't  never  see  no  trouble  twel 
you  git  whar  I  'm  at.  Maybe  you  would  n't  mins 
it  like  I  does,  kaze  I  ain't  usen  ter  it.  But  1  boun5 
you  done  seed  me  light-minded  fer  de  lass  time. 
I  'm  done  —  I  *m  plum  wo*  out,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit, 
sczee.  Dis  make  Brer  Wolf  open  his  eyes  wide. 
He  say,  '  Dis  de  fus  time  I  ever  is  hear  you  talk 
dat  a- way,  Brer  Rabbit;  take  yo'  time  an'  tell  me 
'bout  it.  I  ain't  had  my  brekkus  yit,  but  dat  don't 
make  no  diffunce,  long  ez  youer  in  trouble.  1  '11 
he'p  you  out  ef  I  kin,  an'  mo'  dan  dat,  I  '11  put 
some  heart  in  de  work. '  When  he  say  dis,  he  grin 
an*  show  his  tushes,  an'  Brer  Rabbit  kinder  edge 
'way  fum  'im.  He  say,  'Tell  me  de  trouble,  Brer 
Rabbit,  an'  I  '11  do  my  level  bes'  fer  ter  he'p  you 
out.' 

"Wid  dat,  Brer  Rabbit  'low  dat  Mr.  Man 
done  been  hire  him  fer  ter  take  keer  er  his  truck 
patch,  an'  keep  out  de  minks,  de  mush-rats,  an'  de 


198  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

weasels.  He  say  dat  lie  done  so  well  settin'  ujp 
night  atter  night,  when  he  des  might  ez  well  been 
in  bed,  dat  Mr,  Man  prommus  'im  sump'n  extry 
'sides  de  mess  er  greens  what  he  gun  'im  eve'y 
dayt  Atter  so  long  a  time,  he  say,  Mr.  Man  'low 
dat  he  gwmeter  make  'im  a  present  uv  a  cradle  so 
he  kin  rock  de  little  Rabs  ter  sleep  when  dey  cry. 
So  said,  so  done,  he  say.  Mr.  Man  make  de  cradte 
an*  tell  Brer  Rabbit  he  kin  take  it  home  wid  'im, 
*$  He  start  out  wid  it,  he  say,  but  it  got  so  heavy 
he  hatter  set  it  down  in  de  woods,  an*  dat 's  dfe 
reason  why  Rrer  Wolf  seed  'im  settin*  down  by  de 
side  er  de  road,  lookin"  like  he  in  deep  trouble. 
Brer  Wolf  sot  down,  he  did,  an'  study,  an'  bime- 
by  he  say  he  *d  like  mighty  well  fer  ter  have  a 
cradle  fer  his  chillun,  long  ez  cradles  wuz  de 
style.  Brer  Rabbit  say  dey  been  de  style  fer  de 
longest,  an'  ez  fer  Brer  Wolf  wantin'  one,  he  say 
he  kin  have  de  one  what  Mr.  Man  make  fer  him, 
kaze  it  *s  lots  too  big  fer  his  chillun.  *  You  know 
how  folks  is,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee.  'Dey  try  ter 
do  what  dey  durmer  how  ter  do,  an'  dar  's  der 
house  bigger  dan  i  barn,  an'  dar  's  de  fence  wid 


BROTHER  RABBITS  CRADLE  199 

mo*  holes  in  it  dan  what  dey  is  in  a  saine,  an' 
kaze  dey  have  great  big  chillun  dey  got  de  idee 
dat  eve'y  cradle  what  dey  make  mils'  fit  der  own 
chillun.  An*  dat  's  how  come  I  can't  tote  de 
cradle  what  Mr.  Man  make  fer  me  mo'  dan  ten 
steps  at  a  time.' 

"Brer  Wolf  ax  Brer  Rabbit  what  he  gwineter 
do  fer  a  cradle,  an'  Brer  Rabbit  'low  he  kin  man- 
age fer  ter  git  long  wid  de  ol'  one  twel  he  kin 
'suade  Mr.  Man  ter  make  'im  an'er  one,  an'  he 
don't  speck  dat  '11  be  so  mighty  hard  ter  do.  Brer 
Wolf  can't  he'p  but  b'lieve  dey's  some  trick  in  it, 
an'  he  say  he  ain't  see  de  ol'  cradle  when  las'  he 
wuz  at  Brer  Rabbit  house.  Wid  dat,  Brer  Rabbit 
bust  out  laughin'.  He  say,  'Dat 's  been  so  long 
back,  Brer  Wolf,  dat  I  done  fergit  all  'bout  it; 
'sides  dat,  ef  dey  wuz  a  cradle  dar,  I  boun'  you 
my  ol'  'oman  got  better  sense  dan  ter  set  it 
'in  de  parler,  whar  comp'ny  comes;  an'  he  laugh 
so  loud  an'  long  dat  he  make  Brer  Wolf  right 
shame  er  himse'f. 

"He  'low,  ol'  Brer  Wolf  did,  'Come  on,  Brer 
Rabbit,  an'  show  me  whar  de  cradle  is.  Ef  it 's 


%m  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

too  big  fer  yo'  chillun,  it  '11  des  'bout  fit  mine.* 
An'  so  off  dey  put  ter  whar  Mr.  Man  done  sot  his 
trap,  'Twant  so  mighty  long  'fo'  dey  got  whar 
dey  wuz  gwine,  an'  Brer  Rabbit  say,  'Brer  Wolf, 
dar  yo'  cradle,  an'  may  it  do  you  mo'  good  dan 
it  's  yever  done  me!'  Brer  Wolf  walk  all  roun'  de 
trap  an'  look  at  it  like  'twuz  live.  Brer  Rabbit 
thump  one  er  his  behime  foots  on  de  groun'  an' 
Brer  Wolf  jump  like  some  un  done  shot  a  gun 
right  at  'im.  Dis  make  Brer  Rabbit  laugh  twel 
he  can't  laugh  no  mo'e  Brer  Wolf,  he  say  he 
kinder  nervious  'bout  dat  time  er  de  year,  an' 
de  leas'  little  bit  er  noise  '11  make  'im  jump.  He 
ax  how  lie  gwineter  git  any  purchis  on  de  cradle, 
an'  Brer  Rabbit  say  he  '11  hatter  git  inside  an* 
walk  wid  it  on  his  back,  kaze  dat  de  way  he 
done  done. 

**Brer  Wolf  ax  what  all  dem  contraptions  on 
de  inside  is,  an'  Brer  Rabbit  'spon'  dat  dey  er  de 
rockers,  an'  dey  ain't  no  needs  fer  ter  be  skeer'd 
un  um,  kaze  dey  ain't  nothin'  but  plain  wood. 
Brer  Wolf  say  he  ain't  'zackly  skeer'd,  but  he 
done  got  ter  de  p'int  whar  he  know  dat  you  better 


BROTHER  RABBIT'S  CRADLE  201 

look  'fo"  j  on  jump.  Brer  Rabbit  low  dat  ef  dey's 
any  jumpin'  fer  ter  be  done,  be  de  one  ter  do  it, 
an'  he  talk  like  he  done  fergit  what  dey  come  fer. 
Brer  Wolf,  he  fool  an*  fumble  roun',  but  bimeby 
he  walk  in  de  cradle,  sprung  de  trigger,  an'  dar 
he  wuz !  Brer  Rabbit,  he  holler  out,  '  Come  on, 
Brer  Wolf;  des  hump  yo'se'f,  an'  I  '11  be  wid  you.' 
But  try  ez  he  will  an*  grunt  ez  he  may,  Brer  Wolf 
can't  budge  dat  trap.  Boaneby  Brer  Rabbit  git 
tired  er  waitin'  an'  he  say  dat  ef  Brer  Wolf  ain't 
gwineter  come  on  he  's  gwine  home.  He  'low  «iat 
a  frien'  what  say  he  gwineter  he'p  yoo.  an  <aen  so 
in  a  cradle  an'  drap  off  ter  sleep,  dat's  all  he 
wanter  know  'bout  um;  an'  wid  dat  he  made  fer 
de  bushes,  an'  he  wa'  n't  a  minnit  too  soon,  xaze 
here  come  Mr.  Man  fer  ter  see  ef  his  trap  had 
been  sprung.  He  look,  he  did,  an'  sho*  nuff,  it  'uz 
sprung,  an'  dey  wuz  sump'n  in  dar,  too,  kaze  he 
tkin  hear  it  rustlin'  roun'  an'  kickin'  fer  ter  git 
out. 

"  Mr.  Man  look  thoo  de  crack,  an'  he  see  Brer 
Wolf,  which  he  wuz  so  skeerd  twel  his  eye  look 
right  green.  Mr.  Man  say, '  Aha!  I  got  you,  is  I  ?' 


992  TOU1  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

Brer  Woff  say,  'Who?'  Mr.  Man  laugh  twel  he 
can't  sca'cely  talk,  an'  still  Brer  Wolf  say,  *  Who  ? 
Who  you  think  you  got  ? '  Mr.  Man  'low,  *  I  don't 
think,  I  knows.  Youer  oF  Brer  Rabbit,  dat  's  who 
you  is.'  Brer  Wolf  say,  'Turn  me  outer  here,  an' 
I  '11  show  you  who  I  is. '  Mr.  Man  laugh  fit  ter 
kill.  He  'low,  'You  neenter  change  yo'  voice;  I  'd 
know  you  ef  I  met  you  in  de  dark.  Youer  Brer 
Rabbit,  dat 's  who  you  is. '  Brer  Wolf  say,  *  1 
ain't  not;  dat 's  what  I  'm  not!' 

"  Mr.  Man  look  thoo  de  crack  ag'in,  an'  he  see 
de  short  years.  He  'low,  'You  done  cut  off  yo' 
long  years,  but  still  I  knows  you.  Oh,  yes !  an'  you 
done  sharpen  yo'  mouf  an'  put  smut  on  it  —  but 
you  can't  fool  me. '  Brer  Wolf  say, '  Nobody  ain't 
tryin'  fer  ter  fool  you.  Look  at  my  fine  long 
bushy  tail.'  Mr.  Man  'low,  'You  done  tied  an'er 
tail  on  behime  you,  but  you  can't  fool  me.  Oh,  no, 
Brer  Rabbit!  You  can't  fool  me.'  Brer  Wolf  say, 
'Look  at  de  ha'r  on  my  back;  do  dat  look  like 
Brer  Rabbit  ? '  Mr.  Man  'low,  *  You  done  waller- 
ed  in  de  red  san',  but  you  can't  fool  me.' 

"Brer  Wolf  say,  *Look  at  my  long  black  legs; 


BROTHER  RABBIT'S  CRADLE  203 

do  dey  look  like  Brer  Rabbit?'  Mr.  Man  'low, 
*  You  kin  put  an'er  j'int  in  yo'  legs,  an'  you  kin 
smut  um,  but  you  can't  fool  me. '  Brer  Wolf  say, 
'  Look  at  my  tushes ;  does  dey  look  like  Brer  Rab- 
bit ? '  Mr.  Man  'low,  '  You  done  got  new  toofies, 
but  you  can't  fool  me.'  Brer  Wolf  say,  'Look  at 
my  little  eyes;  does  dey  look  like  Brer  Rabbit?' 
Mr.  Man  'low,  'You  kin  squineh  yo'  eyeballs, 
but  you  can't  fool  me,  Brer  Rabbit. '  Brer  Wolf 
squall  out, '  I  ain't  not  Brer  Rabbit,  an'  you  better 
turn  me  out  er  dis  place  so  I  kin  take  hide  an 
ha'r  off  'n  Brer  Rabbit. '  Mr.  Man  say,  *  Ef  bofe 
hide  an'  ha'r  wuz  off,  I  'd  know  you,  kaze  'tain't 
in  you  fer  ter  fool  me.'  An'  it  hurt  Brer  Wolf 
f eelin's  so  bad  fer  Mr.  Man  ter  'spute  his  word,  dat 
he  bust  out  inter  a  big  boo-boo,  an'  dat 's  'bout 
all  I  know." 

"Did  the  man  really  and  truly  think  that 
Brother  Wolf  was  Brother  Rabbit?"  asked  the 
little  boy. 

"  When  you  pin  me  down  dat  a-way, "  re- 
sponded Uncle  Remus,  "  I  'm  bleeze  ter  tell  you 
dat  I  ain't  too  certain  an'  ^ho'  'bout  dat.  De  tale 


204  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

come  down  fum  my  great-grandaddy's  great- 
grandaddy;  it  come  on  down  ter  my  daddy,  an* 
des  ez  he  gun  it  teT  me,  des  dat  arway  I  done  g\m 
it  ter  you. " 


XII 

BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  BROTHER  BULL-FROQ 

< 

THE  day  that  the  little  boy  got  permission 
to  go  to  mill  with  Uncle  Remus  was  to 
be  long  remembered.  It  was  a  brazil 
new  experience  to  the  city-bred  child,  and  h& 
enjoyed  it  to  the  utmost.  It  is  true  that  Uncle 
Remus  did  n't  go  to  mill  in  the  old-fashioned 
way,  but  even  if  the  little  chap  had  known  of  tin© 
old-fashioned  way,  his  enjoyment  would  not  have 
been  less.  Instead  of  throwing  a  bag  of  corn  offi 
the  back  of  a  horse,  and  perching  himself  on  top 
in  an  uneasy  and  a  precarious  position,  Uncle 
Remus  placed  the  corn  in  a  spring  wagon,  helped 
the  little  boy  to  climb  into  the  seat,  clucked  t© 
the  horse,  and  went  along  as  smoothly  and  as 
rapidly  as  though  they  were  going  to  town. 

Everything  was  new  to  the  lad  —  the  road,  the 
scenery,  the  mill,  and  the  big  mill-pond,  and, beat 

205 


206  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

of  all,  Uncle  Remus  allowed  him  to  enjoy  himself 
in  his  own  way  when  they  came  to  the  end  of 
their  journey.  He  was  such  a  cautious  and  timid 
child,  having  little  or  none  of  the  spirit  of  adven- 
ture that  is  supposed  to  dominate  the  young,  that 
the  old  negro  was  sure  he  would  come  to  no  harm. 
Instead  of  wandering  about,  and  going  to  places 
where  he  had  no  business  to  go,  the  little  boy  sat 
where  he  could  see  the  water  flowing  over  the  big 
dam.  He  had  never  seen  such  a  sight  before,  and 
the  water  seemed  to  him  to  have  a  personality  of 
its  own  —  a  personality  with  both  purpose  and 
feeling. 

The  river  was  not  a  very  large  one,  but  it  was 
large  enough  to  be  impressive  when  its  waters  fell 
and  tumbled  over  the  big  dam.  The  little  boy 
watched  the  tumbling  water  as  it  fell  over  the 
dam  and  tossed  itself  into  foam  on  the  rocks 
below;  he  watched  it  so  long,  and  he  sat  so  still 
that  he  was  able  to  see  things  that  a  noisier 
youngster  would  have  missed  altogether.  He  saw 
a  big  bull-frog  creep  warily  from  the  water,  and 
wipe  his  mouth  and  eyes  with  one  of  his  fore  legs, 


BROTHER  RABBIT  ANI*  BROTHER  BULL-FROG     207 

and  he  saw  the  same  frog  edge  himself  softly  to- 
ward a  white  butterfly  that  was  flitting  about  near 
the  edge  of  the  stream.  He  saw  the  frog  lean  for- 
ward, and  then  the  butterfly  vanished.  It  seemed 
like  a  piece  of  magic.  The  child  knew  that  the 
frog  had  caught  the  butterfly,  but  how  ?  The  flut- 
tering insect  was  more  than  a  foot  from  the  frog 
when  it  disappeared,  and  he  was  sure  that  the 
frog  had  neither  jumped  nor  snapped  at  the  but- 
terfly. What  he  saw,  he  saw  as  plainly  as  you  can 
see  your  hand  in  the  light  of  day. 

And  he  saw  another  sight  too  that  is  not  given 
to  every  one  to  see.  While  he  was  watching  the 
tumbling  water,  and  wondering  where  it  all  came 
from  and  where  it  was  going,  he  thought  he  saw 
swift-moving  shadows  flitting  from  the  water  be- 
low up  and  into  the  mill-pond  above.  He  never 
would  have  been  able  to  discover  just  what  the 
shadows  were  if  one  of  them  had  not  paused  a 
moment  while  half-way  to  the  top  of  the  falling 
water.  It  poised  itself  for  one  brief  instant,  as  a 
humming-bird  poises  over  a  flower,  but  during 
that  fraction  of  time  the  little  boy  was  able  to  see 


208  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

that  what  he  thought  was  a  shadow  was  really  a 
fish  going  from  the  water  below  to  the  mill-pond 
above.  The  child  could  hardly  believe  his  eyes, 
and  for  a  little  while  it  seemed  that  the  whol« 
world  was  turned  topsy-turvy,  especially  as  thtf 
shadows  continued  to  flit  from  the  water  below  to 
the  mill-pond  above. 

And  he  was  still  more  puzzled  when  he  report* 
ed  the  strange  fact  to  Uncle  Remus,  for  the  old 
negro  took  the  information  as  a  matter  of  course 
With  him  the  phenomenon  was  almost  as  old  as* 
his  experience.  The  only  explanation  that  he 
could  give  of  it  was  that  the  fish  —  or  some  kind/ 
of  fish,  and  he  did  n't  know  rightly  what  kind  il 
was  • —  had  a  habit  of  falling  from  the  bottom  oi' 
the  falls  to  the  top.  The  most  that  he  knew  was 
that  it  was  a  fact,  and  that  it  was  occurring  everj 
day  in  the  year  when  the  fish  were  running.  It  was 
certainly  wonderful,  as  in  fact  everything  would 
be  wonderful  if  it  were  not  so  familiar. 

"We  ain't  got  but  one  way  er  lookin'  at 
things,"  remarked  Uncle  Kemus,  "  an'  ef  you  '11 
b'lieve  me,  honey,  it 's  a  mighty  one-sided  way 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  BROTHER  BULL-FROG     209 

Ef  you  could  git  on  a  perch  some'rs  an'  see  things 
like  dey  reely  is,  an'  not  like  dey  seem  ter  us,  I  be 
boun'  you  'd  hoi'  yo'  breff  an'  shet  yo'  eyes." 

The  old  man,  without  intending  it,  was  going 
too  deep  into  a  deep  subject  for  the  child  to  follow 
him,  and  so  the  latter  told  him  about  the  bull- 
frog and  the  butterfly.  The  statement  seemed  to 
call  up  pleasing  reminiscences,  for  Uncle  Remus 
laughed  in  a  very  hearty  way.  And  when  his 
laughing  had  subsided,  he  continued  to  chuckle 
until  the  little  boy  wondered  what  the  source  of 
his  amusement  could  be.  Finally  he  asked  the  old 
negro  point  blank  what  had  caused  him  to  laugk 
at  such  a  rate. 

"Yo'  pa  would  'a'  know'd,"  Uncle  Remus  re- 
plied, and  then  he  grew  solemn  again  and  sighed 
heavily.  For  a  little  while  he  seemed  to  be  listen- 
ing to  the  clatter  of  the  mill,  but,  finally,  he 
turned  to  the  little  boy.  "An'  so  you  done  made 
de  'quaintance  er  oP  Brer  Bull-Frog  ?  Is  you  take 
notice  whedder  he  had  a  tail  er  no  ?  " 

"Why,  of  course  he  didn't  have  a  tail!" 
exclaimed  the   child.    "Neither  toad-frogs  nor 


210  TOLD  BY  UNCUS  REM^S 

bull-frogs  have  tails.  I  thought  everybody  knew 
that." 

"Oh,  well,  ef  dat  de  way  you  feel  'bout  uw, 
'tain't  no  use  fer  ter  pester  wid  urn.  It  done  got  so 
now  dat  folks  don't  b'lieve  nothin'  but  what  dey 
kin  see,  an'  mo'  dan  half  un  uni  won't  b'lieve 
what  dey  see  less  'n  dey  kin  feel  un  it  too.  But 
dat  ain't  de  way  wid  dem  what 's  ol'  'nough  fer 
ter  know.  Ef  I  'd  'a'  tol'  you  'bout  de  fishes 
swimmin'  ag'in  fallin'  water,  you  would  n't  '&' 
b'lieved  me,  would  you?  No,  you  wouldn't  — 
an'  yit,  dar  'twuz  right  'fo'  yo'  face  an'  eyes.  Dar 
dey  wuz  a-skeetin'  fum  de  bottom  er  de  dam 
right  up  in  de  mill-pon',  an'  you  settin'  dar  look- 
in'  at  um.  S'posin'  you  wuz  ter  say  dat  you  won 't 
b'lieve  um  less'n  you  kin  feel  um;  does  you  speck 
de  fish  gwineter  hang  dar  in  de  fallin'  water  an' 
wait  twel  you  kin  wade  'cross  de  slipp'y  rocks  an' 
put  yo'  ban'  on  um  ?  Did  you  look  right  close  fer 
ter  see  ef  de  bull-frog  what  you  seed  is  got  a  tail 
er  no  ? 

The  little  boy  admitted  that  he  had  not.  He 
knew  as  well  as  anybody  that  no  kind  of  a  frog 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  BROTHER  BULL-FEOG  211 

has  a  tail,  unless  it  is  the  Texas  frog,  which  is  only 
a  horned  lizard,  for  he  saw  one  once  in  Atlanta, 
and  it  was  nothing  but  a  rusty-back  lizard  with  .* 
horn  on  his  head. 

"I  ain't  'sputin'  what  you  say,  honey,*'  said 
Uncle  Remus,  "but  de  creetur  what  you  seed 
mought  'a'  been  a  frog  an'  you  not  know  it.  One 
thing  I  does  know  is  dat  in  times  gone  by  de  bull- 
frog had  a  tail,  kaze  I  hear  de  ol'  folks  sesso,  an 
nao'  dan  dat,  dey  know'd  des  how  he  los'  it  —  de 
whar,  an'  de  when,  an'  de  which-away.  Fer  all  i 
know  it  wuz  right  here  at  dish  yer  identual  milL 
pon'.  I  ain't  gwine  inter  court  an'  make  no  afile- 
dave  on  it,  but  ef  anybody  wuz  ter  walk  up  an5 
jv'int  der  finger  at  me,  an'  say  dat  dis  is  de  place 
whar  ol'  Brer  Bull-Frog  lose  his  tail,  I  'd  up  an* 
low,  'Yasser,  it  mus'  be  de  place,  kaze  it  look 
might'ly  like  de  place  what  I  been  hear  tell  'bout.' 
An'  den  I  'd  shet  my  eyes  an'  see  ef  I  can't  git  it 
straight  in  my  dream." 

Uncle  Iteinus  paused,  and  pretended  to  be 
counting  a  handful  of  red  grains  of  corn  that  he 
had  found  somewhere  in  the  mill.  Seeing  that  he 


912  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  KEMUS 

snowed  1*0  disposition  to  tell  how  Brother  Bull- 
Frog  had  lost  his  tail,  the  little  boy  reminded  him 
of  it.  But  the  old  man  laughed.  "Ef  Brer  Bull- 
Frog  ain't  never  had  no  tail,"  he  said,  "how  de 
name  er  goodness  he  gwineter  lose  um?  Ef  he 
yever  is  had  a  tail,  why  den  dat  's  a  gray  hoss  uv 
an'er  color.  Dey  's  a  tale  'bout  'im  havin'  a  tail 
an'  losin'  it,  but  how  kin  dey  be  a  tale  when  dey 
ain't  no  tail?" 

Well,  the  little  boy  did  n't  know  at  all,  and  he 
looked  so  disconsolate  and  so  confused  that  the 
old  negro  relented.  "Now,  den,"  he  reraarkj«d, 
"  ef  ol'  Brer  Bull-Frog  had  a  tail  an'  he  ain't  got 
none  now,  dey  must  'a'  been  sump'n  happen.  In 
dem  times  —  de  times  what  all  deze  tales  tells 
you  "bout  —  Brer  Bull-Frog  stayed  in  an'  aroun' 
still  water  des  like  he  do  now.  De  bad  col'  dat  he 
had  in  dem  days,  he  's  got  it  yit  —  de  same  pop- 
eyes,  an'  de  same  bal'  head.  Den,  ez  now,  dey 
wa'  n't  a  bunch  er  ha'r  on  it  dat  you  could  pull 
out  wid  a  pa'r  er  tweezers.  Ez  he  bellers  now,  des 
dat  a-wayhe  bellered  den,  mo'  speshually  at  night. 
An'  talk  'bout  settin'  up  late  —  why,  ol'  Brer 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  BROTHER  BULL-FROG    213 

Bull-Frog  could  beat  dem  what  fust  got  in  de 
AaDits  er  settin'  up  late. 


"  De  yuther  creelurs  can't  git  no  sleep 

"  Dey  's  one  thing  dat  you  '11  hatter  gi'  'im 
credit  fer,  an*  dat  wuz  keepin'  his  face  an'  han's 


214  TOiJD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

clean,  an'  in  takin'  keer  er  his  cloze.  Nobody,  not 
even  his  mammy,  had  ter  patch  his  britches  or 
tack  buttons  on  his  coat.  See  'im  whar  you  may 
an'  when  you  mought,  he  wuz  allers  lookin'  spick 
an'  span  des  like  he  done  come  right  out'n  a  ban'- 
box.  You  know  what  de  riddle  say  'bout  'im; 
when  he  stan'  up  he  sets  down,  an'  when  he  walks 
he  hops.  He  'd  'a'  been  mighty  well  thunk  un,  ef 
it  had  n't  but  'a'  been  fer  his  habits.  He  holler  so 
much  at  night  dat  de  yuther  creeturs  can't  git  no 
sleep.  He  'd  holler  an'  holler,  an'  'bout  de  time 
you  think  he  bleeze  ter  be  'shame'  er  hollerin'  so 
much,  he  'd  up  an'  holler  ag'in.  It  got  so  dat  de 
creeturs  hatter  go  'way  off  some'rs  ef  dey  wantt.T 
git  any  sleep,  an'  it  seem  like  dey  can't  git  so  fur 
off  but  what  Brer  Bull-Frog  would  wake  um  up 
time  dey  git  ter  dozin'  good. 

"  He  'd  raise  up  an'  'low,  *  Here  I  is!  Here  I  is! 
Wharbouts  is  you?  Wharbouts  is  you?  Come 
along!  Come  along!'  It  'uz  des  dat  a-way  de  whole 
blessed  night,  an'  de  yuther  creeturs,  dey  say  dat 
it  sholy  was  a  shame  dat  anybody  would  set  right 
flat-footed  an'  ruin  der  good  name.  Look  like  he 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  BROTHER  BULL-FROG     215 

pestered  ev'ybody  but  ol'  Brer  Rabbit,  an'  de  rea- 
son dat  lie  liked  it  wuz  kaze  it  worried  de  yuther 

!  f      creeturs.  He  *d  set  an* 


"He'dtelan' Kssen,     .    .    .    an'  den  he'd  laugh  fitter  MU" 

lissen,    ol'    Brer   Rabbit  would,  an'  den  he  'cl 
laugh  fit  ter  kill  kaze  he  ain't  a-keerin'  whed- 


216  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

der  er  no  lie  git  any  sleep  er  not.  Ef  dey  f& 
anybody  what  kin  set  up  twel  de  las'  day 
in  de  mornin*  an*  not  git  red-eyed  an*  heavy- 
headed,  it 's  oP  Brer  Rabbit.  When  he  wanter 
sleep,  he  *d  des  shet  one  eye  an*  sleep,  an'  when 
he  wanter  stay  'wake,  he  'd  des  open  bofe  eyes, 
an'  dar  he  wuz  wid  all  his  foots  under  'im,  an*  a- 
chawin'  his  terbacker  same  ez  ef  dey  wa'  n't  no 
Brer  Bull-Frog  in  de  whole  Nunited  State  er 
Georgy. 

"  It  went  on  dis  way  fer  I  dunner  how  long  < — 
oP  Brer  Bull-Frog  a-bellerin'  all  night  long  an' 
keepin*  de  yuther  creeturs  'wake,  an*  Brer  Rab- 
bit a-laughins.  But,  bimeby,  de  time  ?ome  when 
Brer  Rabbit  hatter  lay  in  some  mo'  calamus  root, 
ag'in  de  time  when  't  would  be  too  col'  fei  ter  dig 
it,  an'  when  he  went  fer  ter  hunt  fer  it,  his  way  led 
*im  down  todes  de  mill-pon'  whar  Brer  Bull-Frog 
live  at.  Dey  wuz  calamus  root  a-plenty  down  dar, 
an*  Brer  Rabbit,  atter  lookup  de  groun'  over, 
promise  hisse'f  dat  he  'd  fetch  a  basket  de  nex' 
time  he  come,  an'  make  one  trip  do  fer  two.  He 
ain't  been  down  dar  long  'f  o'  he  had  a  good  chance 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  BROTHER  BULL-FROG  2H 

fer  ter  hear  Brer  Bull-Frog  at  close  range.   He 
hear  him,  he    «.,     did,  an'  he  shake   his  head 


an'  say  dat  a 


X 


,    mighty  little  bit  er  dat  mu- 
sic would  go  a  long  way^ 


*Wt*K 


r<1 


*  His  tmy  ted  ,im  down  lodes  de  mill-pon'  m 

k.?2e  dey  ain't  nobody  what  kin  stan'  flat-foot- 
id  an'  say  dat  Brer  Bull-Frog  is  a  better 
singer  dan  de  mockin'-bird. 


Sffi  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

"  Well,  whiles  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  pirootin'  roun* 
fer  ter  see  what  mought  be  seed,  he  git  de 
idee  dat  he  kin  hear  thunder  way  off  yander* 
He  lissen  ag'in,  an*  he   hear 


a '  H»  lissen  ag"tn,  an*  hear  Brer  Bidl-Frog  mumblin*  an  grumblvn*m 

Brer  Bull-Frog  mumblin'  an*  grumblin'  ter  his* 
se'f,  an*  he  must  'a'  had  a  mighty  bad  col\ 
kaze  his  talk  soun'  des  like  a  bummil-eye 
bee  been  kotch  in  a  sugar-barrel  an'  can't  git 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  BROTHER  BULL-FROG  90S 
out.  An'  dat  creetur  must  'a'  know'd  dat  Brer 
Rabbit  wuz  down  in  dem  neighborhoods,  kaze* 
atter  while,  he  'gun  to  talk  louder,  an'  yit  mo' 
louder.  He  say,  '  Whar  you  gwine  f  Whar  you 
gwine  ?*  an'  den,  '  Don't  go  too  fur  —  don't  go  fo© 
fur!'  an',  atter  so  long  a  time,  'Come  back — - 
comeback!  Come  back  soon!*  Brer  Rabbit,  he 
sot  dar,  he  did,  an'  work  his  nose  an'  wiggle 
his  mouf,  an'  wait  fer  ter  see  what  gwinetes: 
happen  nex\ 

"Whiles  Brer  Rabbit  settin'  dar,  Brer  Bull- 
Frog  fall  ter  mumblin'  ag'in  an'  it  look  like  he 
'bout  ter  drap  off  ter  sleep,  but  bimeby  he  talk 
louder,  'Be  my  frieri*  —  be  my  frien'J  Oh,  be  my 
frieri*!'  Brer  Rabbit  wunk  one  eye  an*  smole  a 
smile,  kaze  he  done  hear  a  heap  er  talk  like  dat. 
He  wipe  his  face  an'  eyes  wid  his  pocket-hank- 
cher,  an'  sot  so  still  dat  you  'd  'a'  thunk  he  wa*  n't 
inothin'  but  a  chunk  er  wood.  But  Brer  Bull- 
Frog,  he  know'd  how  ter  stay  still  hisse'f,  an'  he 
ain't  so  much  ez  bubble  a  bubble.  But  atter 
whiles,  when  Brer  Rabbit  oan't  stay  still  no  mo*, 
be  got  up  fum  whar  he  wuz  settin'  at  an'  mosied 


420  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

out  by  de  mill-race  whar  de  grass  is  fresh  an'  do 

trees  is  green. 

"Brer  Bull-Frog  holla,  '  Jug-er-rum  — jug-er- 
rum!  Wade  in  here  —  I  '11  gi'  you  some!'  Now  dey 
ain't  nothin'  dat  oP  Brer  Rabbit  like  better  dan  a 
jtfttle  bit  er  dram  fer  de  stomach-ache,  an'  his 
mouf  'gun  ter  water  right  den  an'  dar.  He  went 
a  little  closer  ter  de  mill-pon',  an'  Brer  Bull-Frog 
keep  on  a-talkin'  'bout  de  jug  er  rum,  an'  what  he 
gwine  do  ef  Brer  Rabbit  will  wade  in  dar.  He  look 
at  de  water,  an'  it  look  mighty  col' ;  he  look  ag'in 
an'  it  look  mighty  deep.  It  say,  'Lap-lap!'  an*  il 
look  like  it 's  a-creepin'  higher.  Brer  Rabbit 
drawed  back  wid  a  shiver,  an'  he  wish  mighty 
much  dat  he  'd  'a'  fotch  his  overcoat. 

"Brer  Bull-Frog  say,  'Knee  deep  —  knee  deep! 
Wade  in  —  wade  in!*  an'  he  make  de  water  bub- 
ble des  like  he  takin'  a  dram.  Den  an'  dar, 
sump'n  n'er  happen,  an'  how  it  come  ter  happen 
Brer  Rabbit  never  kin  tell;  but  he  peeped  in  de 
pon'  fer  ter  see  ef  he  kin  ketch  a  glimp  er  de  jug, 
an*  in  he  went  —  kerchug!  He  ain't  never  know 
whedder  he  fall  in,  er  slip  in,  er  ef  he  was  pushed 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  BROTHER  BULL-FROG     221 

in,  but  dar  lie  wuz !  He  come  mighty  nigh  not  git- 
tin  out;  but  he  scramble 
an'  he  scuffle  twel  he  git 


"In he  went — kerchug I ' 


823  TOLD  Bl   UNCLK  ttEMUS 

back  ter  de  bank  whar  he  kin  clim*  out,  an'  ht 
stood  dar,  he  did,  an'  kinder  shuck  hisse'f,  kaze 
lie  mighty  glad  fer  ter  fin'  dat  he  's  in  de  worP 
once  nio\  He  know'd  dat  a  leetle  mo'  an'  he  'd  'a' 
been  gone  fer  good,  kaze  when  he  drapped  in,  ei 
Jumped  in,  er  fell  in,  he  wuz  over  his  head  an' 
years,  an*  he  hatter  do  a  sight  er  kickin'  an'  scuf- 
fiin'  an*  swalleriiP  water  'fo'  he  kin  git  whar  h« 
kin  grab  de  grass  on  de  bank. 

**He  sneeze  an'  snoze,  an*  wheeze  an*  wlioze, 
twel  it  look  like  he  'd  drown  right 
whar  he  wuz  stan'in*  any  way  yon 
kin  fix  it.  He  say  ter  hisse'f 
dat  he  ain't  never  gwine- 
ter  git  de  tas'e  er  rivei 
water    outer    his 
mouf  an'  nose,  an" 
he  wonder  how  in  de 
worP  dat  plain  wa- 
ter kin  be  so  watery. 
OP  Brer  Bull-Frog, 
~  lie   laugh   like   a 

1  He  wonder  how  in  de  worf  dat  plain  , 

water  kin  be  so  voir r? '"  bull    in    de    pastUT  * 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  BROTHER  BULL-FROG  228 

an'  Brer  Rabbit  gi'  a  sidelong  look  dat  oughtei 
tol9  'im  ez  much  ez  a  map  kin  tell  one  er  deze  yer 
school  scholars.  Brer  Rabbit  look  at  'im,  but  lit 
ain't  say  narry  a  word.  He  des  shuck  hisse'f  once 
mo",  an'  put  out  fer  home  whar  he  kin  set  in 
front  er  de  fire  an'  git  dry, 

"Atter  dat  day,  Brer  Rabbit  riz  mighty  soon 
an'  went  ter  bed  late,  an'  he  watch  Brer  Bull- 
Frog  so  close  dat  dey  wa*  n't  nothin'  he  kin  do 
but  what  Brer  Rabbit  know  'bout  it  time  it  \iz 
done ;  an'  one  thing  he  know'd  better  dan  all  — - 
he  know'd  dat  when  de  winter  time  come  Brer 
Bull-Frog  would  have  ter  pack  up  his  duds  an* 
move  over  in  de  bog  whar  de  water  don't  git  friz. 
up.  Dat  much  he  know'd,  an'  when  dat  time 
come,  he  laid  off  fer  ter  make  Brer  Bull-Frog's 
journey,  short  ez  it  wuz,  ez  full  er  hap'nin's  ez  de 
day  when  de  ol*  cow  went  dry.  He  tuck  an'  move 
his  bed  an7  board  ter  de  big  holler  poplar,  not  fui1 
fum  de  mill-pon1,  an'  dar  he  stayed  an"  keep  one 
eye  on  Brer  Bull-Frog  bofe  night  an"  day.  He 
ain't  lose  no  flesh  whiles  he  waitin*,  kaze  he  ain*$ 
one  er  deze  yer  kin'  what  mopes  an*  gits  solium 


S24  TOLD  B^    UNCLE  REMUS 

colly;  he  wuz  all  de  time  betwixt  a  grin  an*  a 
giggle. 

"  He  know'd  mighty  well  - —  none  better  — -  dat 
time  goes  by  turns  in  deze  low  groun'ss  an*  he 
wait  fer  de  day  when  Brer  Bull-Frog  gwineter 
move  his  belongin's  fum  pon'  ter  bog.  An'  bime- 
by  dat  time  come,  an*  when  it  come,  Brer  Bull- 
Frog  is  done  fergit  ofT'n  his  mind  all  'bout  Brer 
Rabbit  an*  his  splashification.  He  rig  hisse'f  out 
in  his  Sunday  best,  an*  he  look  kerserumptious 
ter  dem  what  like  dat  kinder  doin's.  He  had  on  a 
little  sojer  hat  wid  green  an*  white  speckles  all 
over  it,  an*  a  long  green  coat,  an'  satin  britches, 
an5  a  white  silk  wescut,  an5  shoes  wid  silver 
buckles.  Mo*  dan  dat,  he  had  a  green  umbrelh 
ter  ter  keep  fum  havin*  freckles,  an'  his  long  spot 
ted  tail  wuz  done  up  in  de  umbrell  kivver  so  dat 
it  won't  drag  on  de  grounV* 

Uncle  Remus  paused  to  see  what  the  little  boy 
would  say  to  this  last  statement,  but  the  child's 
training  prevented  the  asking  of  many  questions, 
and  so  he  only  laughed  at  the  idea  of  a  frog  with  a 
laii,  and  the  tail  done  ud  m  the  cover  of  a  green 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  BROTHER  BULLFROG  225 

umbrella.  The  laughter  of  the  youngster  was 
hearty  enough  to  satisfy  the  old  negro*  and  he 
went  on  with  the  story, 

"Whiles  all  dis  gwine  on,  honey,  you  better 
b'lieve  dat  Brer  Rabbit  wa'  n't  so  mighty  fur  fum 
dar.  When  Brer  Bull-Frog  come  out  an*  start  fer 
ter  promenade  ter  de  bog,  Brer  Rabbit  show  his- 
se'f  an'  make  like  he  skeered.  He  broke  an*  run9 
an*  den  he  stop  fer  ter  see  what  *t  is  —  an*  den  he 
run  a  leetle  ways  an*  stop  ag'in,  an*  he  keep  od 
dodgin*  an'  runnin*  twel  he  fool  Brer  Bull-Frog 
inter  b'lievin'  dat  he  wuz  skeer'd  mighty  nigh  ter 
death* 

"You  know  how  folks  does  when  dey  git  de 
idee  dat  somebody  *s  'fear'd  un  um  —  ef  you 
don*t  you  *11  fin*  out  long  'fo'  yo*  whiskers  gits  ter 
hangin'  to  yo*  knees.  When  folks  take  up  dis  idee, 
dey  gits  biggity,  an'  dey  ain't  no  stayin'  in  de  same 
country  wid  um. 

"Well,  Brer  Bull-Frog,  he  git  de  idee  dat  Brer 
Rabbit  wuz  'fear'd  un  'im,  an'  he  shuck  his  um« 
brell  like  he  mad,  an*  he  beller :  *  Whar  my  gun  ?' 
Brer  Rabbit  flung  up  bofe  han's  like  he  wu» 


m 


'  ©*  *A.i«s&  Ai»  umbrell '  Uke  he  mad  " 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  BROTHER  BULL-FROG    227 

skeer'd  er  gittin'  a  load  er  shot  in  his  vitals,  an5 
den  he  broke  an'  run  ez  hard  ez  he  kin.  Brer  Bull- 
Frog  holler  out,  'Come  yer,  you  vilyun,  an'  le' 
me  gi'  you  de  frailin'  what  I  done  promise  you!' 
but  0I'  Brer  Rabbit,  he  keep  on  a-gwine.  Brer 
Bull-Frog  went  hoppin'  atter,  but  he  ain't  make 
much  headway,  kaze  all  de  time  he  wuz  hoppin* 
he  wuz  tryin'  to  strut. 

"'Twuz  e'en  about  ez  much  ez  Brer  Rabbit 
kin  do  fer  ter  keep  fum  laughin',  but  he  led  Brer 
Bull-Frog  ter  de  holler  poplar,  whar  he  had  his 
hatchet  hid.  Ez  he  went  in,  he  'low,  'You  can't 
git  me!'  He  went  in,  he  did,  an'  out  he  popped  on 
t'er  side.  By  dat  time  Brer  Bull-Frog  wuz  mighty 
certain  an'  sho  dat  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  skeer'd  ez 
he  kin  be,  an'  inter  de  holler  he  went,  widout  so 
much  ez  takin'  de  trouble  ter  shet  up  his  umbrell. 
When  he  got  in  de  holler,  in  co'se  he  ain't  see 
hide  ner  ha'r  er  Brer  Rabbit,  an*  he  beller  out, 
'  Whar  is  you  ?  You  may  hide,  but  I  '11  fin'  you„ 
an'  when  I  does  - —  when  I  does ! '  He  ain't  say  all 
he  wanter  say,  kaze  by  dat  time  Brer  Rabbit  wuz 
lammin'  on  de  tree  wid  his  hatchet.  He  hit  it  some 


228  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

mighty  heavy  whacks,  an'  Brer  Bull-Frog  git  de 
idee  dat  somebody       % 
wuz  nuttin'itdown.     Jr 


m  Brer  Rabbit  run  rerun'  ter  wh  ur  he  vntz  an7  chop  his  tail  off 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  BROTHER  BULL-FROG  22» 

"  Dis  kinder  skeer'd  'im,  kaze  he  know  dat  ef 
de  tree  fell  while  he  in  de  holler,  it  'd  be  all-night 
Isom  wid  him.  But  when  he  make  a  move  fer  ter 
turn  roun'  in  dar  fer  ter  come  out,  Brer  Rabbit 
run  roun'  ter  whar  he  wuz,  an'  chop  his  tail  off 
right  smick-smack-smoove." 

The  veteran  story-teller  paused,  and  looked  at 

the    clouds    that  were    gathering    in    the  sky„ 

'  'Twould  n't  'stonish  me  none,"  he  remarked 

dryly,  "ef  we  wuz  ter  have  some  fallin'  wedder." 

"But,  Uncle  Remus,  what  happened  when 
Brother  Rabbit  cut  off  the  Bull-Frog's  tail?"  in- 
quired the  little  boy. 

The  old  man  sighed  heavily,  and  looked 
around,  as  if  he  were  hunting  for  some  way  of  es- 
cape. "Why,  honey,  when  de  Frog  tail  wuz  cut 
off,  it  stayed  off,  but  dey  tells  me  dat  it  kep'  on  a 
wigglin'  plum  twel  de  sun  went  down.  Dis  much 
I  does  know,  dat  sence  dat  day,  none  er  de  Frog 
fambly  has  been  troubled  wid  tails.  Ef  you  don't 
believe  me  you  kin  ketch  um  an'  see." 


XXXI 


WHY   MR.    DOG    IS   TAME 


THERE  were  quite  a  number  of  dogs  on 
the  plantation- — foxhounds,  harriers,  a 
sheep  dog,  and  two  black- and- tan 
hounds  that  had  been  trained  to  tree  coons  and 
Opossums.  In  these,  the  little  boy  took  an  abiding 
interest,  and  he  soon  came  to  know  the  name 
and  history  of  each  individual  dog.  There  was 
Jonah,  son  of  Hodo,  leader  of  the  foxhounds, 
Jewel,  leader  of  the  harriers,  and  Walter,  the 
sheep  dog,  who  drove  up  the  cows  and  hogs 
every  evening.  Indeed,  it  was  not  long  before 
the  little  boy  knew  as  much  about  the  dogs  as 
Uncle  Remus  did. 

He  imagined  he  knew  more,  for  one  day  he  in* 
formed  the  old  man  that  once  upon  a  time  all 
dogs  were  wild,  and  roamed  about  the  woods  and 
fields  just  as  the  wild  animals  do  now, 

230 


WHY  MR.  DOG  IS  TAME  SSI 

?*You  see  me  settin*  here,'*  Uncle  Remus  re- 
marked; "well,  suh,  oF  ez  I  is,  I  *d  like  mighty 
well  ter  fin'  out  how  you  come  ter  know  'bout 
deze  happenin's  way  back  yander. " 

The  little  boy  made  no  secret  of  the  matter;  he 
answered  with  pride  that  his  mother  had  been 
reading  to  him  out  of  a  great  big  book  with  pic- 
tures in  it.  Uncle  Remus  stretched  his  arms  above 
his  head,  and  opened  wide  his  eyes.  Astonish- 
ment took  possession  of  his  countenance.  The 
child  laughed  with  delight  when  he  saw  the 
amazement  of  Uncle  Remus,  "  Yes, "  he  went  on, 
"mother  read  about  all  the  wild  animals.  The 
book  said  that  when  the  dogs  were  wild  they  used 
to  go  in  droves,  just  as  the  wolves  do  now." 

*'  Yasser,  dat  's  so ! "  exclaimed  Uncle  Remus 
with  admiration,  "an'  ef  you  keep  on  like  you 
gwine,  'twon't  be  long  'fo'  you  '11  know  lot's  mo' 
'bout  de  creeturs  dan  what  I  does  —  lot's  mo'. " 
Then  he  became  confidential  —  "  Wuz  dey  any- 
thing in  de  big  book,  honey,  'bout  de  time  dat  de 
Dog  start  in  f  er  ter  live  wid  Mr.  Man  ?  "  The  little 
boy  shook  his  head.  If  there  was  anything  about 


832  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

it  in  the  big  book  from  which  his  mother  had  been 
reading,  she  had  kept  it  to  herself, 

"Well*  J  'm  mighty  glad  dey  ain't  nothin*  in 
dar  'bout  it,  kaze  ef  dey  had  'a*  been,  I  *d  'a' 
been  bleeze  ter  gi*  up  my  job*  kaze  when  dey 
git's  ter  puttin*  tales  in  a  book,  dat  *s  a  sign. " 

"  A  sign  of  what,  Uncle  Remus  ?  " 

"  Des  a  sign,  honey  —  a  plain  sign.  Ef  you 
dunner  what  a  sign  is,  I  '11  never  tell  you.  " 

"When  did  the  Dog  begin  to  live  with  Mr. 
Man?"  the  little  boy  inquired,  "Once  he  was 
wild,  and  now  he  is  tame.  How  did  he  become 
tame  ?  " 

"Ah-yi!  den  you  got  de  idee  dat  oF  man  Re- 
mus know  sump'n  n'er  what  ain't  down  in  de 
books?" 

"  Why,  you  asked  me  if  there  was  anything  in 
the  big  book  that  told  about  the  time  when  the 
Dog  went  to  live  with  Mr.  Man,"  the  little  boy 
replied. 

**  Dat 's  what  I  done, "  exclaimed  Uncle  Remus 
with  a  laugh.  "  An'  I  done  it  kaze  I  laid  off  ter  tell 
you  'bout  it  one  er  deze  odd-come-shorts  when  de 


WHY  MR.  DOG  IS  TAME  238 

moow  ridin*  high,  an"  de  win'  playin'  a  chune  in 
de  b%  pine. " 

"  Why  not  tell  it  now  ?  "  the  little  boy  asked, 

"  Le'  me  see,  is  I  well  er  is  I  sick  ?  Is  I  full  er  is 
I  hongry  ?  Ef  I  done  fergot  what  I  had  fer  dinner 
day  'fo'  yistiddy,  den  *tain't  no  use  fer  ter  try  ter 
tft31  a  tale  'bout  oF  times.  Wuz  it  cake?  No, 
'want  cake.  Wuz  it  chicken-pie?  No,  'twant 
f  nicken-pie.  What,  den  ?  Ah-h-h !  Now  I  knows : 
Twuz  tater  custard,  an*  it  seem  like  I  kin  tas'e  it 
jrit.  Yasser!  Day  'fo'  yistiddy  wuz  so  long  ago  dat 
It  look  like  a  dream." 

"  It  was  n't  any  dream, "  the  little  boy  declared . 
M  Mother  would  n't  let  me  have  any  at  the  house, 
and  when  grandmother  sent  your  dinner,  she  put 
two  pieces  of  potato  custard  on  a  plate,  and  you 
said  that  one  of  them, was  for  me. " 

"An'  you  e't  it,"  Uncle  Remus  declared;  "you 
e't  it,  an'  you  liked  it  so  well  dat  you  sot  yo'  eye  on 
my  piece,  an'  ef  I  had  n't  'a'  grabbed  it,  I  boun" 
I  would  n't  'a'  had  no  tater  custard. " 

The  little  boy  laughed  and  blushed.  "  How  did 
you  know  I  wanted  the  other  piece?"  he  asked* 


SS4  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

"I  know  it  by  my  nose  an*  my  two  big  toes,*9 
Uncle  Remus  replied.  "  Put  a  boy  in  smeilin*  dis- 
tance uv  a  piece  er  tater  custard,  an*  it  seem  like 
de  custard  will  fly  up  an*  hit  him  in  de  mouf ,  no 
matter  how  much  he  try  ter  dodge. " 

Uncle  Remus  paused  and  pulled  a  raveling 
from  his  shirt-sleeve,  looking  at  the  little  boy 
meanwhile, 

M I  know  very  well  you  have  n't  forgotten  the 
story/*  remarked  the  child,  "for  grandmother 
says  you  never  forgot  anything,  especially  the  old- 
time  tales." 

**  Well,  suhs   1  speck  she  knows.   She  been 
knowin*  me  ev'ry  sence  she  wuz  a  baby  gal,  an'mo 
dan  dat,  she  know  right  p'int  blank  what  I  'm 
a-thinkm*  'bout  when  she  kin  git  her  eye  on  me. " 

"  And  she  says  she  never  caught  you  tellin*  a 
fib." 

*&Is  she  say  dat?"  Uncle  Remus  inquired  with 
a  broad  grin.  "  Ef  she  did,  I  *m  lots  sharper  dan  I 
looks  ter  be,  kaze  many  and  many  *s  de  time 
when  I  been  skeer'd  white,  thinkin*  she  done 
cotch  me.  Tooby  sho',  tooby  sho'f " 


WHY  MR.  DOG  IS  TAME  23$ 

"  But  what  about  the  Dog,  Uncle  Remus  ?*' 

"  What  dog,  honey  ?  Oh,  you  '11  hatter  scuzen 
me  —  I  *m  lots  older  dan  what  I  looks  ter  be. 
You  mean  de  Dog  what  tuck  up  at  Mr.  Man's 
house.  Well,  oF  Brer  Dog  wuz  e'en  about  like  he 
is  deze  days,  scratchin'  fer  fleas,  an'  growlin'  over 
his  vittles  stidder  sayin'  grace,  an'  berryin'  de 
bones  when  he  had  one  too  many.  He  wuz  des 
like  he  is  now,  'ceppin'  dat  he  wuz  wil'.  He  gal- 
loped wid  Brer  Fox,  an'  loped  wid  Brer  Wolf,  an* 
cantered  wid  Brer  Coon.  He  went  all  de  gaits,  an* 
he  had  des  ez  good  a  time  ez  any  un  um,  an'  des 
ez  bad  a  time. 

Now,  one  day,  some'rs  'twix'  Monday  mornin' 
an'  Saddy  night,  he  wuz  settin'  in  de  shade 
scratchin'  hisse'f ,  an'  he  wuz  tooken  wid  a  spell  er 
thinkin'.  He  'd  des  come  thoo  a  mighty  hard 
winter  wid  de  yuther  creeturs,  an'  he  up  an'  say 
ter  hisse'f  dat  ef  he  had  ter  do  like  dat  one  mo' 
season,  it  'd  be  de  een'  er  him  an'  his  fambly. 
You  could  count  his  ribs,  an'  his  hip-bones  stuck 
out  like  de  horns  on  a  hat-rack. 

"Whiles  he   wuz    settin'    dar,  scratchin'    an* 


236  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

studyin',  an'  studyin'  an'  scratching  who  should 
come  meanderin'  down  de  big  road  but  oP  Brer 
Wolf;  an'  it  'uz  'Hello,  Brer  Dog!  you  look  like 
you  ain't  seed  de  inside  uv  a  smokehouse  fer 
quite  a  whet.  I  ain't  sayin'  dat  I  got  much  fer  ter 
brag  on,  kaze  I  ain't  in  no  better  fix  dan  what 
you  is.  De  colder  it  gits,  de  skacer  de  vittles 
grows.'  An'  den  he  ax  Brer  Dog  whar  he  gwine 
an'  how  soon  he  gwineter  git  dar.  Brer  Dog  make 
answer  dat  it  don't  make  no  diffunce  whar  he  go 
ef  he  don't  fin'  dinner  ready. 

"Brer  Wolf  'low  dat  de  way  ter  git  dinner  is 
ter  make  a  fier,  kaze  't  ain't  no  use  fer  ter  try  ter 
eat  ef  dey  don't  do  dat.  Ef  dey  don't  git  nothin 
fer  ter  cook,  dey  '11  have  a  place  whar  dey  kin 
keep  warm.  Brer  Dog  say  he  see  whar  Brer  Wolf 
is  dead  right,  but  whar  dey  gwine  git  a  fier  ?  Brer 
Wolf  say  de  quickest  way  is  ter  borry  a  chunk 
fum  Mr.  Man  er  his  ol'  'oman.  But  when  it  come 
ter  sayin'who  gwine  alter  it,  dey  bofe  kinder  hung 
back,  kaze  dey  know'd  dat  Mr.  Man  had  a 
walkin'-cane  what  he  kin  p'int  at  anybody  an* 
snap  a  cap  on  it  an'  blow  der  light  right  out. 


WHY  MR.  DOG  IS  TAME  287 

"  But  bimeby,  Brer  Dog  say  '11  go  atter  de 
chunk  er  fier,  an'  he  ain't  no  mo'  dan  say  dat, 
*fo'  off  he  put,  an'  he  travel  so  peart,  dat  'twant 
long  'fo'  he  come  ter  Mr.  Man's  house.  When  he 
got  ter  de  gate  he  sot  down  an'  done  some  mo' 
studyin',  an'  ef  de  gate  had  'a'  been  shot,  he  'd  'a* 
turned  right  roun'  an'  went  back  like  he  come; 
but  some  er  de  chillun  had  been  playin'  out  in  de 
yard,  an'  dey  lef  de  gate  open,  an  so  dar  'twuz. 
Study  ez  he  mought,  he  can't  fin'  no  skuce  fer 
gwine  back  widout  de  chunk  er  fier.  An'  in  he 
went. 

"Well,  talk  'bout  folks  bein'  'umble;  you  ain't 
seed  no  'umble-come-tumble  twel  you  see  Brer 
Dog  when  he  went  in  dat  gate.  He  ain't  take  time 
fer  ter  look  roun',  he  so  skeer'd.  He  hear  hogs 
a-gruntin'  an'  pigs  a-squealin',  he  hear  hens 
a-cacklin'  an'  roosters  crowin',  but  he  ain't  turn 
his  head.  He  had  sense  'nuff  not  ter  go  in  de  house 
by  de  front  way.  He  went  roun'  de  back  way  whar 
de  kitchen  wuz.  an'  when  he  ffot  dar  he  'fraid  ter 
go  any  furder.  He  went  ter  de  do',  he  did,  an'  he 
'fraid  ter  knock.  He  hear  chillun  laughin'  an* 


S8S  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

playin'  in  dar,  an'  fer  de  fust  time  in  all  his  born 
days,  he  'gun  ter  feel  lonesome. 

"  Bimehy,  some  un  open  de  do'  an'  den  shot  it 
right  quick.  But  Brer  Dog  ain't  see  nobody;  he 
*uz  too  'umble-come- tumble  fer  dat.  He  wuz 
lookin'  at  de  groun',  an'  wonderin'  what  'uz 
gwineter  happen  nex'.  It  must  'a'  been  one  er  de 
chillun  what  open  de  do',  kaze  'twant  long  'fo' 
here  come  Mr.  Man  wid  de  walkin'-cane  what 
had  fier  in  it.  He  come  ter  de  do',  he  did,  an'  he 
say,  '  What  you  want  here  ? '  Brer  Dog  wuz  too 
skeer'd  fer  ter  talk;  all  he  kin  do  is  ter  des  wag 
his  tail.  Mr.  Man,  he  'low,  'You  in  de  wrong 
house,  an'  you  better  go  on  whar  you  got  some 
business.3 

"  Brer  Dog,  he  crouch  down  close  ter  de  groun', 
an'  wag  his  tail.  Mr.  Man,  he  look  at  'im,  an'  he 
ain't  know  whedder  fer  ter  turn  loose  his  gun  er 
not,  but  his  ol'  'oman,  she  hear  him  talkin',  an* 
she  come  ter  de  do',  an'  see  Brer  Dog  crouchin* 
dar,  'umbler  dan  de'  'umblest,  an'  she  say,  'Po' 
feller!  you  ain't  gwine  ter  hurt  nobody,  is  you?' 
an'  Brer  Dog  'low,  'No,  ma'am,  I  ain't;  I  des 


WHY  MR.  DOG  IS  TAME  231 

come  fer  ter  borry  a  chunk  er  fier. '  An'  she  say, 
*  What  in  de  name  er  goodness  does  you  want  wid 
fier  ?  Is  you  gwine  ter  burn  us  out  'n  house  an* 
home?'  Brer  Dog  'low,  'No,  ma'am!  dat  I  ain't; 
I  des  wanter  git  warm.'  Den  de  'oman  say,  'I 
clean  fergot  'bout  de  col'  wedder  —  come  in  de 
kitchen  here  an'  warm  yo'se'f  much  ez  you 
wanter. ' 

"  Dat  wuz  mighty  good  news  fer  Brer  Dog,  an' 
in  he  went.  Dey  wuz  a  nice  big  fier  on  de  h'ath, 
an'  de  chillun  wuz  settin'  all  roun'  eatin'  der 
dinner.  Dey  make  room  fer  Brer  Dog,  an'  down 
he  sot  in  a  warm  cornder,  an'  'twant  long  'fo' 
he  wuz  feelin'  right  splimmy-splammy.  But  he 
wuz  mighty  hongry.  He  sot  dar,  he  did,  an' 
watch  de  chillun'  eatin'  der  ashcake  an'  butter- 
milk, an'  his  eyeballs  'ud  foller  eve'y  mouffle  dey 
e't.  De  'oman,  she  notice  dis,  an'  she  went  ter  de 
cubberd  an'  got  a  piece  er  warm  ashcake,  an'  put 
it  down  on  de  h'ath. 

"  Brer  Dog  ain't  need  no  secon'  invite  —  he 
des  gobble  up  de  ashcake  'fo'  you  kin  say  Jack 
Robberson  wid  yo'  mouf  shot.  He  ain't  had  nigh 


240  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

nuff,  but  he  know'd  better  dan  ter  show  what  his 
appetites  wuz.  He  'gun  ter  feel  good,  an'  den  he 
got  down  on  his  hunkers,  an'  lay  his  head  down 
on  his  fo'paws,  an'  make  like  he  gwine  ter  sleep. 
Atter  'while,  he  smell  Brer  Wolf,  an'  he  raise  his 
head  an'  look  todes  de  do'.  Mr.  Man  he  tuck 
notice,  an'  he  say  he  b'lieve  dey  's  some  un 
sneakin'  roun'.  Brer  Dog  raise  his  head,  an'  snuff 
todes  de  do',  an'  growl  ter  hisse'f .  So  Mr.  Man 
tuck  down  his  gun  fum  over  de  fierplace,  an' 
went  out.  De  fust  thing  he  see  when  he  git  out 
in  de  yard  wuz  Brer  Wolf  runnin'  out  de  gate, 
an'  he  up  wid  his  gun  —  bang!  —  an'  he  hear 
Brer  Wolf  holler.  All  he  got  wuz  a  han'ful  er 
ha'r,  but  he  come  mighty  nigh  gittin'  de  whole 
hide. 

"Well,  atter  dat,  Mr.  Man  fin'  out  dat  Brer 
Dog  could  do  'im  a  heap  er  good,  fus'  one  way 
an'  den  an'er.  He  could  head  de  cows  off  when 
dey  make  a  break  thoo  de  woods,  he  could  take 
keer  er  de  sheep,  an'  he  could  warn  Mr.  Man 
when  some  er  de  yuther  creeturs  wuz  prowlin' 
roua*.  An'  den  he  wuz  some  comp'ny  when  Mr 


WHY  MR.  DOG  IS  TAME  241 

Man  went  huntin'.  He  could  trail  de  game,  an* 
he  could  fin'  his  way  home  f  um  anywheres ;  an'  he 
could  play  wid  de  chimin  des  like  he  wuz  one  un 
um. 

"'Twant  long  'fo'  he  got  fat,  an*  one  day 
when  he  wuz  amblin'  in  de  woods,  he  meet  up 
wid  Brer  Wolf.  He  howdied  at  'im,  he  did,  but 
Brer  Wolf  won't  skacely  look  at  'im.  Atter  'while 
he  say, '  Brer  Dog,  why  'n't  you  come  back  dat 
day  when  you  went  atter  fier  ?'  Brer  Dog  p'int  ter 
de  collar  on  his  neck.  He  'low,  *  You  see  dis  ?  Well 
it  '11  tell  you  lots  better  dan  what  I  kin.'  Brer 
Wolf  say, '  You  mighty  fat.  Why  can't  I  come  dar 
an'  do  like  you  does  ? '  Brer  Dog  'low,  *  Dey  ain't 
nothin'  fer  ter  hinder  you.' 

"So  de  next  mornin',  bright  an'  early,  Brer 
Wolf  knock  at  Mr.  Man's  do'.  Mr.  Man  peep  out 
an'  see  who  't  is,  an'  tuck  down  his  gun  an'  went 
out.  Brer  Wolf  try  ter  be  perlite,  an'  he  smile. 
But  when  he  smile  he  show'd  all  his  tushes,  an* 
dis  kinder  skeer  Mr.  Man.  He  say,  'What  you 
doin'  sneakin'  roun'  here  ?'  Brer  Wolf  try  ter  be 
mo'  perliter  dan  ever,  an'  he  grin  fum  year  ter 


242  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

year.  Dis  show  all  liis  tushes,  an'  Mr.  Man  lam- 
med aloose  at  'im.  An*  dat  'uz  de  las*  time  dat 
Brer  Wolf  ever  try  ter  live  wid  Mr.  Man,  aik  fum 
dat  time  on  down  ter  dis  day,  it  *uz  war  Hwix* 
Brer  Wolf  an'  Brer  Dog* " 


XIV 

BROTHER   RABBIT  AND   THE   GIZZARD-EATEB 

IT  seem  like  ter  me  dat  I  hear  somebody  say, 
not  longer  dan  day  'f  o*  yistiddy,  dat  dey  yd 
be  mighty  glad  ef  dey  could  fin*  some  un 
fer  ter  bet  wid  urn,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  staring 
hard  at  the  little  boy,  and  then  suddenly  shutting 
his  eyes  tight,  so  that  he  might  keep  from  laugh- 
ing at  the  expression  he  saw  on  the  child's  face 
Receiving  no  immediate  response  to  his  remark, 
the  old  man  opened  his  eyes  again,  and  found 
the  little  boy  regarding  him  with  a  puzzled  air. 

"My  mother  says  it  is  wrong  to  bet,"  said  the 
child  after  awhile.  He  was  quite  serious,  and  it 
was  just  this  aspect  of  seriousness  that  made  him 
a  little  different  from  another  little  boy  that  had 
been  raised  at  Uncle  Remus's  knee.  "Mother 
says  that  no  Christian  would  want  to  bet. " 

The  old  man  closed  his  eyes  again,  as  though 

243 


S44  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

trying  to  remember  something,  He  frowned  anti 
smacked  his  mouth  before  he  spoke.  "  It  look  like 
dat  I  never  is  ter  git  de  tas'e  er  dat  chicken-pie 
what  yo'  gran'ma  sont  me  out'n  my  mouf.  J 
dunner  when  I  been  had  any  chicken-pie  what 
stayed  wid  me  like  dat  chicken-pie.  But  'bout 
dat  bettin\"  he  remarked,  straightening  himself 
in  his  chair,  "I  speck  I  mus'  'a'  been  a-dreamin\ 
I  know  mighty  well  it  could  n't  'a'  been  you;  so 
we  '11  des  up  an'  say  it  wuz  little  Dreamus,  an'  let 
it  go  at  dat.  All  I  know  is  dat  dey  wuz  a  little  chap 
loungin'  roun'  here  tryin'  fer  ter  l'arn  how  ter 
play  mumbly-peg  wid  one  er  de  case-knives  what 
he  tuck  fum  de  white  folks'  dinner-table,  an* 
whiles  he  wuz  in  de  middle  er  his  l'arnin',  de  oP 
speckled  hen  run  fum  under  de  house  here,  an* 
sot  up  a  mighty  cacklin',  kaze  she  fear'd  some  un 
wuz  gwineter  interrupt  de  eggs  what  she  been 
nussin'  an'  warmin'  up.  She  cackle,  an'  she 
cackle,  an'  den  she  cackle  some  mo'  fer  ter  keep 
fum  fergittin'  how;  an'  'long  'bout  dat  time,  dish 
yer  little  boy  what  I  been  tellin'  you  'bout  —  I 
speck  we  '11  be  bleeze  ter  call  him  Dreamus  —  he 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  THE  GIZZARD-EATER      244 

up  wid  a  rock  an'  flung  it  right  at  'er,  an'  ef  she  'd 
'a*  been  in  de  way  er  de  rock,  he  'd  'a*  come 
mighty  nigh  hittin'  her.  Dis  make  de  oF  hen  bofe 
skeer'd  an'  fear'd  an'  likewise  mad,  an'  she 
hitched  a  squall  on  ter  her  cackle,  an'  flop  hei 
wings.  Seein'  dat  de  hen  wuz  mad,  dis  little  chap, 
which  he  name  Dreamus,  he  got  mad,  too,  an'  he 
'lowed, '  I  bet  you  I  make  you  hush !'  an'  dar  dey 
had  it,  de  ol'  hen  runnin'  an'  squallin',  an'  de 
little  chap  zoonin'  rocks  at  her.  I  speck  de  hen 
would  'a'  bet  ef  she  'd  'a'  know'd  how  —  an'  she 
sho'  would  'a'  won  de  bet,  kase  de  las'  news  I 
hear  fum  'er  she  wuz  runnin'  an'  squallin'." 

The  little  boy  squirmed  uneasily  in  his  chair. 
He  remembered  the  incident  very  well,  so  well 
that  he  hardly  knew  what  to  say.  But  after  awhile, 
thinking  that  it  was  both  necessary  and  polite  to 
say  something,  he  declared  that  when  he  made 
that  remark  to  the  hen  he  knew  she  would  n't 
understand  him,  and  that  what  he  said  about  bet- 
ting was  just  a  saying. 

"Dat  mought  be,  honey,"  said  Uncle  Remus, 
"but  don't  you  fool  yo'se'f  'bout  dat  hen  not 


246  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

knowin'  how  ter  talk,  kaze  dey  has  been  times 
an'  places  when  de  creeturs  kin  do  lots  mo'  talk' 
In'  dan  folks.  When  you  git  ter  be  oF  ez  what  I  is, 
you  '11  know  dat  talkin'  ain't  got  nothin'  in  de 
roun'  worl'  ter  do  wid  fedders,  an'  needer  wid  fur. 
I  hear  you  say  you  want  ter  bet  wid  de  ol'  hen, 
an'  ef  you  still  wantin'  you  got  a  mighty  good 
chance  dis  day  ef  de  sun  is  mighty  nigh  down.  I  '11 
bet  you  a  thrip  ag'in  a  ginger-cake  dat  when  you 
had  yo'  dinner  you  ain't  fin'  no  chicken  gizzard 
in  yo'  part  er  de  pie. " 

"  No, "  replied  the  child,  "  I  did  n't,  and  when  I 
asked  grandmother  about  it,  she  said  she  was 
going  to  raise  some  chickens  next  year  with 
double  gizzards." 

"Did  she  say  dat?  Did  Miss  Sally  say  dat?" 
inquired  Uncle  Remus,  laughing  delightedly. 
"Well,  suh,  dat  sho'  do  bang  my  time!  How 
come  she  ter  know  dat  some  er  de  creeturs  got 
double  gizzards  ?  She  sho'  is  de  outdoin'est  white 
'oman  what  ps  yever  been  bornded  inter  de  worl*. 
She  done  sont  me  de  chicken  gizzard  des  so  I  kin 
tell  you  'bout  de  double  gizzards  an'  de  what- 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  THE  GIZZARD-EATER     3*? 

jaots.  Double  gizzards!  De  ve'y  name  iiings  roe 
way  back  yander  ter  ol'  folks  an*  oF  times, 
Laws-a-massy!  I  wonder  what  Miss  Sally  gwine 
do  nex*;  anybody  what  guess  it  oughter  be  presi 
dent  by  good  rights."  Uncle  Remus. paused,  and 
lowered  his  voice  to  a  confidential  tone  —  *4  She 
ain't  tell  you  'bout  de  time  when  de  Yallergater 
wus  honin'  fer  ol*  Brer  Rabbit's  double  gizzards, 
is  she,  honey?" 

"  No,  she  did  n't  tell  me  that,  but  she  laughed,, 
and  when  I  asked  her  what  she  was  laughing  at, 
she  said  1  *d  find  out  by  the  time  I  was  seven  feet 
tall." 

"You  hear  dat,  don't  you?"  Uncle  Remus 
spoke  as  though  there  were  a  third  person  in  the 
room.  "  What  I  been  tellin*  you  all  dis  time  ?  "  and 
then  he  laughed  as  though  this  third  person  were 
laughing  with  him.  "You  may  try,  an'  you  may 
fly,  but  you  never  is  ter  see  de  beat  er  Miss  Sally. " 

!*  Was  grandmother  talking  about  a  tale,  Uncle 
Remus  ?  It  must  have  been  a  very  funny  one,  for 
she  laughed  until  she  had  to  take  off  her  spec- 
tacles and  wipe  them  dry, "  said  the  little  boy. 


248  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

"Dat  *s  her!  dat  's  Miss  Sally  up  an*  down,  an' 
dey  can't  nobody  git  ahead  er  her.  She  know'd 
mighty  well  dat  time  you  say  sump'n  'bout 
double  gizzards  my  min*  would  fly  right  back  ter 
de  time  when  de  Yalligater  wuz  dribblin'  at  de 
mouf,  an*  ol*  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  shaking  in  his 
shoes. " 

"  If  it  *s  a  long  story,  I  *m  afraid  you  have  n't 
time  to  tell  it  now/'  suggested  the  little  boy. 

The  child  was  so  polite  that  the  old  negro  stood 
somewhat  in  awe  of  him,  and  he  was  afraid,  tco, 
that  it  was  ominous  of  some  misfortune  — -  there 
was  something  uncanny  about  it  from  Uncle 
Remus's  point  of  view.  "Bless  you,  honey  I 
I  got  des  ez  much  time  ez  what  dey  is  —  it  all 
b'longs  ter  me  an*  you.  Maybe  you  wanter  go 
Sbme'rs  else ;  maybe  you  '11  wait  twei  some  yuther 
day  fer  de  platted  whip  dat  I  hear  you  talkin* 
?bout" 

"No;  I  '11  wait  and  get  the  story  and  the  whip 
together  —  if  you  are  not  too  tired. " 

The  old  negro  looked  at  the  little  boy  from  the 
corner  of  his  eye  to  see  if  he  was  really  in  earnest. 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  THE  GIZZARD-EATER      248 

Satisfying  himself  on  that  score,  he  promptly 
began  to  plait  the  whip  while  he  unraveled  the 
story.  He  seemed  to  be  more  serious  than  usual, 
but  one  of  the  peculiarities  of  Uncle  Remus,  as 
many  a  child  had  discovered,  was  that  he  was 
not  to  be  judged  by  any  outward  aspect  This  is 
the  way  he  began : 

"  Ever  since  I  been  pirootin'  roun*  in  deze  low- 
groun's,  it  *s  been  de  talk  er  dem  what  know'd  dat 
Brer  Rabbit  wuz  a  mighty  man  at  a  frolic,  I 
don't  speck  he  *d  show  up  much  in  deze  days,  but 
in  de  times  when  de  creeturs  wuz  bossin'  dey  own 
jobs,  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  up  fer  perty  nigh  ev'ything 
dat  wuz  gwine  on  ef  dey  want  too  much  work  in 
it.  Dey  could  n't  be  a  dance  er  a  quiltin'  nowhar's 
aroun'  but  what  he  'd  be  dar;  he  wuz  fust  ter 
come  an'  last  ter  go. 

"  Well,  dey  wuz  one  time  when  he  went  too  fur 
an"  stayed  too  late,  bekaze  a  big  rain  come  en- 
durin'  de  time  when  dey  wuz  playin*  an*  dancin% 
an'  when  Brer  Rabbit  put  out  fer  home,  he  foun* 
dat  a  big  freshet  done  come  an'  gone,  De  dreens 
had  got  ter  be  creeks,  de  creeks  had  got  ter  be 


mi  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

sfivers,  an"  de  rivers  - —  well,  I  ain't  gwine  ter  teM 
you  what  de  rivers  wuz  kaze  you  'd  think  dat  J 
done  tol'  de  trufe  good-bye. 
By  makm  big  jumps  an' 
gwine  out  er  his  way,  Brer 
Eabbit  manage  fer  ter  git 
ez  close  ter  home  ez  de  creek, 
but  when  he  git  dar,  de  creek 
wuz  so  wide  dat  it 
make  him  feel  like 
he  been  los'  so  long 
dat  his  fambly  done 
iergot  him.  Many 
an'  many  a  time  had  '•^a^^  *«««**  "»*#■** 
he  cross'  dat  creek  on  a  log,  but  de  log  done  gone, 
an*  de  water  wuz  spread  out  all  over  creation.  De 
water  wuz  wide,  but  dat  wa'  n't  mo'  dan  half  — 
it  look  ]ike  it  wuz  de  wettest  water  dat  Brer  Rab- 
bit ever  lay  eyes  on. 

"  Dey  wuz  a  ferry  dar  fer  times  like  dis,  but  it 
look  like  it  wuz  a  bigger  fresh  dan  what  dey  had 
eounted  on.  Brer  Rabbit,  he  sot  on  de  bank  an1 
wipe  de  damp  out'n  his  face  an'  eyes,  an'  den  he 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  THE  GIZZARD-EATER      £51 

holla'd  fer  de  nian  what  run  de  ferry.  He  holla'd 
an'  holla'd,  an'  bimeby,  he  hear  some  un  answer 
him,  an'  he  looked  a  little  closer,  an'  dar  wuz  de 
man,  which  his  name  wuz  Jerry,  way  up  in  de  top 

lim's  uv  a  tree :  an" 


looked  still  clos- 
er, an'  he  seed 
dat  Jerry  had 
company* 
wuz    oF   Brer 
B'ar  settin'  at  de  foot  er  de  tree, 
waitin*  fer  Jerry  fer  ter  come 
own  so  he  kin  tell  'im 
owdy. "  Uncle  Remus 
paused  to  see 
what    effect 
this  statement 
would  have  on  the 
little  boy.  The 
youngster  said 
nothing,     but 


*Dar  whs  or  Brer  B'ar  settin*  ai  de  foot 
er  de  tree  " 


lis    shrewd    smile    showed    the  old    man   that 
le    fully    appreciated    the    reason    why   Jerry 


233  TOLD  BY  UNCLE   REMUS 

was  in  no  hurry  to  shake  hands  with  Brother 
Bear. 

"  Well,  suh,  Brer  Rabbit  took  notice  dat  dey 
wuz  sump'n  mo'  dan  dampness  'twix'  um,  an  he 
start  in  ter  holla  again,  an'  he  holla'd  so  loud,  an' 
he  holla'd  so  long,  dat  he  woke  up  oF  Brer  Yalli- 
gater.  Now,  it  ain't  make  ol'  Brer  Yalligater  feel 
good  fer  ter  be  wokened  up  at  dat  hour,  kaze  he'd 
des  had  a  nice  supper  er  pine-knots  an'  sweet 
*taters,  an'  he  wuz  layin'  out  at  full  lenk  on  his 
mud  bed.  He  'low  ter  hisse'f,  he  did,  '  Who  in  de 
nation  is  dis  tryin'  fer  ter  holla  de  bottom  out  er 
de  creek?'  He  lissen,  an'  den  he  turn  over  an* 
lissen  ag'in.  He  shot  one  eye?  an'  den  he  shot  de 
yuther  one,  but  dey  ain't  no  sleepin'  in  dat  neigh- 
berhood.  Jerry  in  de  tree,  he  holla  back,  '  Can  t 
come  —  got  comp'ny!' 

"Brer  Yalligater,  he  hear  dis,  an'  he  say  tei 
hisse'f  dat  ef  nobody  can't  come,  he  kin,  an'  he 
riz  ter  de  top  wid  no  mo'  fuss  dan  a  fedder-bed 
makes  when  you  let  it  'lone.  He  riz,  he  did,  an'  his 
two  eyes  look  des  perzackly  like  two  bullets* 
floatin'  on  de  water.  He  riz  an'  wunk  his  eye,  an* 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  THE  GIZZARD-EATER      253' 

ax  Brer  Rabbit  howdy,  an'  mo'  speshually  how  is 
his  daughter.  Brer  Rabbit,  he  say  dat  dey  ain't  no 
tellin'  how  his  daughter  is,  kaze  when  he  lef* 


u  He  riz  an'  wunk  his  eye,  an*  ax  Brer  Rabbit  howdy  " 

home  her  head  wuz  a-swellin'.  He  say  dat  some 
er  de  neighbors'  chillun  come  by  an'  flung  rocks 
at  her  an'  one  un  urn  hit  her  on  top  er  de  head 
right  whar  de  cow-lick  is,  an'  he  hatter  run  atter 
de  doctor. 

"  Brer  Yalligater  'low, '  You  don't  tell  me,  Brer 
Rabbit,  dat  it 's  come  ter  dis !  Yo'  chillun  gittinv 
chunked  by  yo'  neighbors'  chillun!  Well,  well, 
well!  I  wish  you  'd  tell  me  wharbouts  it 's  all 
agwine  ter  een'  at.  Why,  it  '11  git  so  atter  while 
dat  dey  ain't  no  peace  anywhar's  'seppin  at  my 
house  in  de  bed  er  de  creek.* 


eS4  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

" Brer  Rabbit  say,  'Ain't  it  de  trufe?  An*  not 
•only  does  Brer  Fox  chillun  chunk  my  chillun  on 
Aey  cow-licks,  but  no  sooner  is  I  gone  atter  de 
doctor  dan  here  corne  de  creek  a-risin'.  I  may  be 
wrong,  but  I  ain't  skeer'd  ter  say  dat  it  beats  any- 
thing I  yever  is  lay  eyes  on.  Over  yander  in  de 
fur  woods  is  whar  my  daughter  is  layin'  'wid  de 
headache,  an'  here  's  her  pa,  an'  'twix'  us  is  de 
b'ilin'  creek.  Ef  I  wuz  ter  try  ter  wade,  ten  ter  one 
de  water  would  be  over  my  head,  an'  ef  not  dat 
bad,  all  de  pills  what  de  doctor  gi'  me  would  melt 


15  'Ef  you  think  you  kin  stay  in  one  place  long  enough,  I  'U  try  ter  put 
you  'cross  de  creek '  " 


in  my  pocket.  An'  dey  might  pizen  me,  kaze  de 
doctor  ain't  say  dey  wuz  ter  be  tuck  outside. ' 
"  OF  Brer  Yalligater  Soar  on  de  water  like  he 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  THE  GIZZARD-EATER      SSffi 

ain't  weigh  no  mo'  dan  one  er  deze  yer  postitch 
stomps,  an*  he  try  ter  drop  a  tear.  He  groan,  he 
did,  an*  float  backerds  an'  forrerds  like  a  tied  ca~ 
noe.  He  say,  *  Brer  Rabbit,  ef  dey  yever  wuz  a 
rover  you  is  one.  Up  you  come  an'  off  you  go5  jm* 
dey  ain't  no  mo'  keepin'  up  wid  you  dan  ef  you 
had  wings.  Ef  you  think  you  kin  stay  in  one  place 
long  enough,  I  '11  try  ter  put  you  'cross  de  creek. 
Brer  Rabbit  kinder  rub  his  chin  whiles  he  wiggle 
his  nose.  He  'low,  sezee,  *  Brer  'Gater,  how  deep 
is  dat  water  what  you  floatin'  in?'  Brer  YalM- 
gater  say,  sezee,  *  Brer  Rabbit,  ef  me  an'  my  ol* 
'omen  wuz  ter  jine  heads,  an'  I  wuz  ter  stan'  on 
de  tip-een'  my  tail,  dey  '11  still  be  room  enough  fer 
all  er  mv  chillun  'fo'  we  totch  bottom.' 

"Brer  Rabbit,  he  fell  back  like  he  gwineter 
faint.  He  'low,  *Brer  'Gater,  you  don't  tell  me? 
You  sholy  don't  mean  dem  last  words !  Why,  you 
make  me  feel  like  I  'm  furder  fum  home  dan  dem 
what 's  done  lost  fer  good !  How  de  name  er  good- 
ness you  gwineter  put  me  'cross  dis  slippery 
Water  ? '  Brer  Yalligater,  he  blow  a  bubble  or  tw© 
out'n  his  nose,  an'  den  he  say,  sezee,  '  Ef  you  kia 


fiS6  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

stay  still  in  one  place  long  'nough,  I  *m  gwinetef 
take  you  'cross  on  my  back.  You  nee'nter  saT 
thanky,  yit  I  want  you  ter  know  dat  I  ain't  eve'y- 
body's  water-hoss.'  Brer  Rabbit  he  'low,  sezee, 
8 1  kin  well  b'lieve  dat,  Brer  'Gater,  but  some- 
how, 1  kinder  got  a  notion  dat  yo*  tail  mighty 
limber.  I  hear  oi'  folks  say  dat  you  kin  knock  a 
chip  fum  de  back  er  yo'  head  wid  de  tip-een'  er 
yo'  tail  an'  never  half  try.'  Brer  Yalligater  smack 
his  mouf,  an'  say,  sezee,  *  Limber  my  tail  may 
be,  Brer  Rabbit,  an*  fur-reachin',  but  don't 
blame  me.  It  wuz  dat  a-way  when  it  wuz  'gun  ter 
me.  It 's  all  j'inted  up  'cordin'  ter  natur.' 

"Brer  Rabbit,  he  study  an'  study,  an'  de  mo' 
he  study,  de  wuss  he  like  it.  But  he  bleeze  ter  go 
home  —  dey  wa'  n't  no  two  ways  'bout  dat  — 
an*  he  'low,  sezee,  'I  speck  what  you  say  is 
some'rs  in  de  neighborhoods  er  de  trufe,  Brei 
gGater,  an'  mo'  dan  dat,  I  b'lieve  I  '11  go  'long  wid 
you  Ef  you  '11  ride  up  a  leetle  closer,  I  'II  make 
up  my  mind  so  I  won't  keep  you  waitinY  Bret 
Yalligater,  he  Scat  by  de  side  er  de  bank  same 
ez  a  cork  out'n  a  pickle  bottle,  He  ain't  do  like  ht. 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  THE  GIZZARD-EATER     m 

in  a  hurry,  kaze  he  drapt  a  word  er  two  about  de 
wedder,  an*  he  say  dat  de  water  wuz  mighty  col* 
down  dar  in  de  slushes.  But  Brer  Rabbit  tuck 
notice  dat  wher*  he  smole  one  er  his  imiles,  he 
show'd  up  a  double  row  er  tushes,  dat  look  like 
dey'd  do  mighty  good  work  in  a  saw-mill.  Brer 
Rabbit,  he  'gun  ter  shake  like  he  bavin*  a  chill; 
he  'low,  *I  feel  dat  damp,  Brer  'Gater,  dat  1 
mought  des  ez  well  be  in  water  up  ter  my  chinj5 
Brer  Y  aPigater  ain't  say  nothin',  but  he  can't  hide 
his  tushes  Brer  Rabbit  look  up,  he  look  down, 
an'  he  look  all  aiutin'.  He  ain't  skacely  know 
what  ter  do.  He  'low,  'Brer  'Gater,  yo'  back 
mighty  roughnin' ;  how  I  gwine  ter  ride  on  it  r* 
Brer  Yalligater  say,  sezee,  'De  roughnin'  wiU 
he'p  you  ter  hoi'  on,  kaze  you  '11  hatter  ride 
straddle.  You  kin  des  fit  yo'  foots  on  de  bumps 
an'  kinder  brace  yo'se'f  when  you  think  you  see 
a  log  floatin'  at  us.  You  kin  des  set  up  dar  same 
ez  ef  you  wuz  settin'  at  home  in  yo'  rockin'-cheer." 
"Brer  Rabbit  shuck  his  head,  but  he  got  on, 
he  did,  an'  he  ain't  no  sooner  git  on  dan  he  wish 
mighty  hard  he  wuz  off.  Brer  Yalligater  say, 


t8t  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

sezee*  *  You  kin  pant  ef  you  wanter,  Brer  Rabbit, 
but  I  *il  do  de  paddlin*/  an'  den  be  slip  thoo  de 
water  des  like  be  greased.  Brer  Rabbit  sho'  wuz 
skeer'd  but  be  keep  bis  eye  open,  an'  bimeby  he 
;tuck  notice  dat  Brer  Yalligater  wa'  n't  makin'  f er 
de  place  whar  de  lan'in's  at,  an'  be  up  an*  sesso. 
He  'low,  *Brer  'Gater,  ef  I  ain't  mighty  much 


1 '  Brer  'Gater,  ef  I  ain't  mighty  much  mistoohen,  you  ain't 
fer  de  lan'in* ' " 


mistooken,  you  ain't  headin'  fer  de  lan'in'/  Brer 
Yalligater  say,  sezee,  *You  sho'  is  got  mighty 
good  eyes,  Brer  Rabbit.  I  been  waitin'  fer  you  a 
long  time,  an'  I  'm  de  wust  kinder  waiter.  I  most 
know  you  ain't  fergit  dat  day  in  de  stubble,  when 
you  say  you  gwineter  show  me  ol'  man  Troubie, 
Well,  you  ain't  only  show  'im  ter  me,  but  you 
made  me  shake  ban's  wid  'im.  You  sot  de  dry 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AMD  THE  GIZZARD-EATER      259 

grass  afire,  an*  burn  me  scandaiious.  Dat  de 
reason  my  back  so  rough,  an*  dat  de  reason  mj 
hide  so  tough.  Well,  I  been  a-waitin'  sence  dat 
time,  an'  now  here  you  is.  You  burn  me  twel  I 
hatter  squench  de  burnin'  in  de  big  quogmire.' 

"  Brer  Yalligater  laugh,  but  he  had  de  laugh  all 
on  his  side,  kaze  dat  wuz  one  er  de  times  when 
Brer  Rabbit  ain't  feel  like  gigglin\  He  sot  dar 
a-shakin'  an*  a-shiverin*.  Bimeby  he  'low,  sezee* 
'What  you  gwine  do,  Brer  'Gater?'  Brer  YalK-* 
gater,  say,  sezee,  'It  look  like  ter  me  dat  sence 
you  sot  de  dry  grass  afire,  I  been  havin'  symp- 
toms. Dat  what  de  doctor  say.  He  look  at  my 
tongue,  an9  feel  er  my  pulsh,  an*  shake  his  head. 
He  say  dat  bein's  he  *s  my  frien',  he  don't  mind 
tellin'  me  dat  my  symptoms  is  gittin'  mo'  wusseir 
dan  what  dey  been,  an'  ef  I  don't  take  sump'n, 
I  *11  be  fallin'  inter  one  deze  yer  inclines  what 
make  folks  flabby  an*  weak.' 

"Brer  Rabbit,  he  shuck  an'  he  shiver'd.  He 
low,  sezee,  'What  else  de  doctor  say,  Brei 
'Gater  ?'  Brer  Yalligater  keep  on  a-slippin'  along  \ 
he  say,  sezee,  'De  doctor  ain't  only  look  at  my 


e60  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

tongue  —  he  medjer'd  my  breff,  an*  he  hit  me 
on  my  bosom  ■—  tip-tap-tap !  —  an*  he  say  dey 
ain't  but  one  thing  dat  '11  kyo  me.  I  ax  'im  what 
<dat  is,  an'  he  say  it 's  Rabbit  gizzard.*  Brer  Yal- 
ligater  slip  an'  slide  along,  an'  wait  fer  ter  see 
what  Brer  Rabbit  gwineter  say  ter  dat.  He  ain't 
had  ter  wait  long,  kaze  Brer  Rabbit  done  his 
thinkin'  like  one  er  deze  yer  machines  what  got 
lightnin'  in  it.  He  low,  sezee,  *  It 's  a  mighty  good 
thing  you  struck  up  wid  me  dis  day,  Brer  'Gater, 
kaze  I  got  des  perzackly  de  kinder  physic  what 
you  lookin'  fer.  All  de  neighbors  say  I  'm  mighty 
quare  an'  I  speck  I  is,  but  quare  er  not  quare, 
I  *m  long  been  lookin'  fer  de  gizzard-eater.' 

"  Brer  Yalligater  ain't  say  nothin* ;  he  des  slide 
thoo  de  water,  an*  lissen  ter  what  Brer  Rabbit 
Bayin'.  Brer  Rabbit  'low,  sezee,  'De  las'  time  I 
wuz  tooken  sick,  de  doctor  come  in  a  hurry,  an* 
he  sot  up  wid  me  all  night  —  not  a  wink  er  sleep 
did  dat  man  git.  He  say  he  kin  tell  by  de  way  I 
wuz  gwine  on,  rollin'  an'  tossin',  an'  moanin'  an' 
groanin',  dat  dey  wa'  n't  no  physic  gwineter  do 
me  no  good.  I  ain't  never  see  no  doctor  scratch 


BROTHER  RABBIT  ANt>  THE  GIZZARD-EATER      261 

head  like  dat  doctor  did;  lie  done  like  he  wua 
stumped,  he  sho'  did.  He  say  he  ain't  never  see 
nobody  wid  my  kind  er  trouble,  an'  he  went  oS 
an'  call  in  one  er  his  brer  doctors,  an*  de  two 
knock  dey  heads  tergedder,  an*  say  my  trouble 
all  come  fum  bavin'  a  double  gizzard.  When  my 
ol'  'oman  hear  dat,  she  des  flung  her  apron  over 
her  head,  an'  fell  back  in  a  dead  faint,  an*  a  little 
ido*  an*  I  'd  'a'  had  ter  pay  a  doctor  bill  on  her 
accounts.  When  she  squalled,  some  er  my  chilhin 
got  skeer'd  an'  tuck  ter  de  woods,  an'  dey  ain't  all 
got  back  when  I  lef  home  las'  night.' 

"Brer  Yalligater,  he  des  went  a-slippin'  long 
thoo  de  water;  he  lissen,  but  he  ain't  sayih' 
nothin'.  Brer  Rabbit,  he  'low,  sezee,  *  It 's  de 
fatal  trufe,  all  dis  dat  I  'm  a-tellin'  you.  De 
doctor,  he  flew'd  roun'  twel  he  fotch  my  oP 
'oman  to,  an'  den  he  say  dey  ain't  no  needs  ter  be 
skittish  on  accounts  er  my  havin'  a  double  giz- 
zard, kaze  all  I  had  ter  do  wuz  ter  be  kinder  keer- 
ful  wid  my  chawin's  an'  gnyawin's,  an'  mv 
comin's  an'  gwines.  He  say  dat  I  'd  hatter  suffei 
wid  it  twel  I  fin*  de  gizzard-eater.  I  ax  'im  whar- 


m  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

bouts  is  he,  an*  he  say  dat  I  'd  know  him  when  I 
seed  him,  an*  ef  I  fail  ter  know  'im,  he  '11  make 
hisse'f  beknown  ter  me.  Dis  kinder  errytate  me, 
kaze  when  a  man's  a  doctor*  an'  is  got  de  idee  er 
ityoin*  anybody,  dey  ain't  no  needs  ter  deal  in  no 
riddles.  But  he  say  dat  tain't  no  use  fer  ter  tell  all 
you  knoWj  speshually  fo'  dinner.' 

"Brer  Yailigater  went  a~slidin'  long  thoo  de 
water;  he  lissen  an'  smack  his  mouf,  but  he  ain't 
sayin'  nothin't  Brer  Rabbit,  he  talk  on;  he  'low 
sezeej,  'An'  dey  wuz  one  thing  he  lot"  me  mo* 
plainer  dan  all  de  rest  He  say  dat  when  anybody 
wuz  'flicted  wid  de  double  gizzard,  dey  dassent 
cross  water  wid  it,  kaze  ef  dey's  anything  dat  a 
double  gizzard  won't  stan*  it  's  de  smell  er 
water/ 

"Brer  Yalligater  went  slippin'  long  thoo  de 
water,  but  he  feel  like  de  time  done  come  when 
he  bleeze  ter  say  sump'n.  He  say,  sezee,  'How 
eome  youer  crossin'  water  now,  ef  de  doctor  tell 
you  dat  ?'  Dis  make  Brer  Rabbit  laugh;  he  'low, 
*  Maybe  I  oughtn't  ter  tell  you*  but  fo'  I  km 
cross  water  dat  double  gizzard  got  ter  come  out. 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  THE  GIZZARD-EATER     26S 

De  doctor  done  tol'  me  dat  ef  she  ever  smell 
water,  dey  '11  be  sech  a  swellin'  up  dat  my  skin 
won't  hoi'  me;  an*  no  longer  dan'  las*  night,  *fo*  I 
come  ter  dis  creek  —  'twuz  a  creek  den,  what- 
somever  you  may  call  it  now  —  I  tuck  out  my 
double  gizzard  any  hid  it  in  a  hick'ry  holler.  An* 
ef  youer  de  gizzard-eater,  now  is  yo'  chance,  kaze 
ef  you  put  it  off,  you  may  rue  de  day.  Ef  youer  in 
de  notion  I  '11  take  you  right  dar  an*  show  you  de 
stump  whar  I  hid  it  at  —  er  ef  you  wanter  be 
lonesome  'bout  it,  I  '11  let  you  go  by  yo'se'f  an* 
I  '11  stay  right  here/ 

"Brer  Yalligater,  he  slip  an'  slide  thoo  de 
water.  He  say,  sezee,  *  Whar'd  you  say  you  'd 
stay  ?'  Brer  Rabbit  'low,  sezee,  '  I  '11  stay  right 
here,  Brer  'Gater,  er  anywhar's  else  you  may 
choosen ;  I  don't  keer  much  whar  I  stays  er  what 
I  does,  so  long  ez  I  git  rid  er  dat  double  gizzard 
what 's  been  a-tarrifyin'  me.  You  better  go  by 
yo'se'f,  kaze  bad  ez  dat  double  gizzard  is  done 
me,  I  got  a  kinder  tendersome  feelin'  fer  it,  an' 
I  *m  fear'd  ef  I  wuz  ter  go  'long  wid  you,  an*  see 
you  grab  it,  dey'd  be  some  boo-kooin'  done.  Ef 


264  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

fo\x  go  by  yo'se'f,  des  rap  on  de  stump  an*  say  — > 
Ef  youer  ready,  I  *m  ready  an'  a  little  mo9  so,  un* 
^ou  won't  have  no  trouble  wid  her.  She 's  hid  right 
in  dern  woods  yander,  an'  de  holler  hick'ry  stump 
ain*t  so  mighty  fur  fum  whar  de  bank  er  de  creek 
oughter  be.* 


M  Brer  Rabbit  make  a  big  jump  an'  Ian*  on  solid  ground  " 

"Brer  'Gater  ain't  got  much  mo'  sense  dan 
what  it  'ud  take  fer  ter  clim'  a  fence  atter  some- 
body  done  pulled  it  down,  an'  so  he  kinder 
slew'd  hisse'f  aroun',  an'  steered  fer  de  woods  — ■ 
de  same  woods  whar  dey  's  so  many  trees,  an' 
whar  ol'  Sis  Owl  starts  all  de  whirl- win's  by  fan' 
nin*  her  wings.  Brer  Yalligater  swum  an'  steered, 
fcwel  he  come  close  ter  Ian',  an'  when  he  done  da% 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  THE  GIZZARD-EATER      26fi 

Brer  Rabbit  make  a  big  jump  an*  Ian*  on  solid 
ground.  He  mought  er  got  his  feet  wet,  but  ef  he 
did  'twuz  ez  much.  He  'low,  sezee  — 

"  *  You  po*  oV  *Gater  ef  you  know'd  A  fum  Izzard, 
You  'd    know  mighty    well   dot    I  *d    keep   my 
Gizzard.* 

An'  wid  dal,  he  wuz  done  gone  — done  clean 
gone!' 


XV 

BEOTHEK  BABBIT  AND   MISS  NANCY 

NE  day,  when  Uncle  Remus  had  toki 
one  of  the  stories  that  have  already 
been  set  forth,  the  little  boy  was  un» 
usually  thoughtful.  He  had  asked  his  mother 
whether  there  was  ever  a  time  when  the  animals 
acted  and  talked  like  people,  and  she,  without 
reflecting,  being  a  young  and  an  impulsive 
woman,  had  answered  moat  emphatically  in 
the  negative.  Now,  this  little  boy  was  shrewder 
than  he  was  given  credit  for  being,  and  he  knew 
that  neither  his  grandmother  nor  Uncle  Remus 
would  set  great  store  by  what  his  mother  said. 
How  he  knew  this  would  be  difficult  to  explain, 
but  he  knew  it  all  the  same.  Therefore,  when  he 
interjected  a  doubt  as  to  the  truth  of  the  tales,  he 
kept  the  name  of  his  authority  to  himself. 

"Uncle  Remus,"  said  the  little  boy,  "how do 

866 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  MISS  NANCY  267 

you  know  that  the  tales  you  tell  are  true? 
Could  n't  somebody  make  them  up  ?" 

The  old  man  looked  at  the  little  child,  and 
knew  who  had  sown  the  seeds  of  doubt  in  his 
mind,  and  the  knowledge  made  him  groan  and 
shake  his  head.  "  Maybe  you  think  I  done  it. 
honey,  but  ef  you  does,  de  sooner  yon  fergit  it 
off  'n  yo'  min',  de  better  fer  you,  kaze  I  'd  set  here 
an'  dry  up  an'  blow  way  f  o'  I  kin  tell  a  tale  er  my 
own  make-up;  an'  ef  dey  5s  anybody  deze  days 
what  kin  make  um  up,  I  'd  like  fer  ter  snuggle  up 
ter  *im,  an'  ax  'im  ter  l'arn  me  how. " 

"Do  you  really  believe  the  animals  could 
talk?"  asked  the  child. 

"What  diffunce  do  it  make  what  I  b'lieve, 
honey?  Ef  dey  kin  talk  in  dem  days,  er  ef  dey 
can't,  b'lievin'  er  not  b'lievin'  ain't  gwineter 
he'p  matters.  Ol'  folks  what  live  in  dem  times  dey 
jsay  de  creeturs  kin  talk,  kaze  dey  done  talk  wid 
um,  an'  dey  lell  it  ter  der  chillun  an'  der  chillun 
tell  it  ter  der  chillun  right  on  down  ter  deze  days. 
So  den  what  you  gwineter  do  'bout  it  —  b'lieve 
deue  what  had  it  fum  de  ol'  folks  dat  know'd,  ei 


«68  TOLD   BY   UNCLE  REMUS 

dem  what  ain't  never  hear  nothin'  'tall  about  it 
twel  dey  git  it  second  han'  fum  a  ol'  nigger 
man  ?  " 

The  child  perceived  that  Uncle  Remus  was 
hitting  pretty  close  to  home,  as  the  saying  is,  and 
he  said  nothing  for  a  while.  "  I  have  n't  said  that 
I  don't  believe  them,"  he  remarked  presently. 

"  Ef  you  said  it,  honey,  you  ain't  say  it  whar  1 
kin  hear  you,  but  I  take  notice  dat  you  hoi'  yo' 
head  on  one  side  an*  kinder  wrinkle  yo'  face  up 
when  I  tell  deze  tales.  Ef  you  don't  b'lieve  um, 
tain't  no  mo'  use  f er  me  ter  tell  um  dan 't  is  fer  me 
ter  fly." 

"  My  face  always  wrinkles  when  I  laugh,  Uncle 
Remus. " 

"An'  when  you  cry,"  responded  the  old  man 
so  promptly  that  the  child  laughed,  though  he 
hardly  knew  what  he  was  laughing  at. 

"I  'm  gwineter  tell  you  one  now,"  remarked 
Uncle  Remus,  wiping  a  smile  from  his  face  with 
the  back  of  his  hand,  "  an'  you  kin  take  it  er  leave 
it,  des  ez  you  please.  Ef  you  see  anything  wrong 
in  it  anywhar,  you  kin  p'int  it  out  ez  we  go  'long. 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  MISS  NANCY  269 

I  been  tellin*  you  dat  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  a  heap 
bigger  in  dem  days  dan  what  he  is  now.  It  looks 
like  de  f  ambly  done  run  ter  seed,  an'  I  bet  you  dat 
ninety-nine  thousan*  year  fum  dis  ve'y  day,  de 
Rabbit-tum-a-hash  crowd  won'  be  bigger  dan 
fiel'  -  mices  —  I  bet  you  dat.  He  wa*  n't  only 
bigger,  but  he  wuz  mighty  handy  'bout  a  farm, 
when  he  tuck  a  notion,  speshually  ef  Mr.  Man 
had  any  greens  in  his  truck-patch.  Well,  one 
time,  times  wuz  so  hard  dat  he  hatter  hire  out  fer 
his  vittles  an'  cloze.  He  had  de  idee  dat  he  wuz 
gittin'  a  mighty  heap  fer  de  work  he  done,  an' 
Mr.  Man  tell  his  daughter  dat  he  gittin*  Brer 
Rabbit  mighty  cheap.  Dey  wuz  bofe  satchified, 
an'  when  dat 's  de  case,  eve'ybody  else  oughter 
be  satchified.  Brer  Rabbit  kin  hoe  taters,  an' 
chop  cotton,  an'  fetch  up  breshwood,  an*  split 
de  kin'lin,  an'  do  right  smart. 

"  He  say  ter  hisse'f .  Brer  Rabbit  did,  dat  ef  he 
ain't  gittin'  no  money  an'  mighty  few  cloze,  he 
bouny  he  'd  have  a  plenty  vittles.  De  fust  "week  er 
two,  he  ain't  cut  up  no  shines;  he  wuz  gittin' 
ase^  ter  de  place.  He  stuck  ter  his  work  righi 


270  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

straight  along  twel  Mr.  Man  say  he  one  er  de  bes" 
han's  oti  de  whole  place,  an'  he  tell  his  daughter 
dat  she  better  set  'er  cap  fer  Brer  Rabbit.  De  gal 
she  toss  her  head  an*  make  a  mouf,  but  all  de; 
samey  she  'gun  ter  cas'  sheep  eyes  at  'im. 

4*  One  fine  day,  when  de  sun  shinin'  mighty  hot? 
Brer  Rabbit  'gun  ter  git  mighty  hongry.  He  say 
he  want  some  water.  Mr,  Man  say,  *Dar  de 
bucket,  an'  yan'  de  spring.  Eve'ything  fix  so  you 
kin  git  water  monstus  easy,*  Brer  Rabbit  git  de 
water,  but  still  dey  wuz  a  gnyawin'  in  his 
stomach,  an*  bimeby  he  say  he  want  some  bread. 
Mr.  Man  say,  *  'T  ain't  been  so  mighty  long  sense 
you  had  brekkus,  but  no  matter  'bout  dat.  Yan's 
de  house,  in  de  house  you  'Jl  fin*  my  daughter,  an' 
she  11  gi*  you  what  bread  you  want. ' 

"  Wid  dat  Brer  Rabbit  put  out  fer  de  house, 
an*  dar  he  fin'  de  gal.  She  say, 4  La,  Brer  Rabbit ! 
you  oughter  be  at  work,  but  stidder  dat  here  j*~ 
is  at  de  house.  I  hear  pap  say  dat  youer  mighiy 
good  worker,  but  ef  dis  de  way  you  does  yo'  work, 
I  dunner  what  make  'im  sesso,*  Brer  Rabbit  say, 
4 1  *m  here,  Miss  Nancy,  kaze  yo1  daddy  soni 


BROTHER  BABBIT  AND  MISS  NANCY  271 

me.*  Miss  Nancy  'low,  *  Ain't  you  'shame  er 
yo'se'f  fer  ter  talk  dat  away  ?  You  know  pap  ain't 
sont  you. '  Brer  Rabbit  say,  *  Yassum,  lie  did, '  anJ 
dem  lie  smole  one  er  deze  yer  lopsided  smiles. 
Miss  Nancy  kinder  hang  *er  head  an*  low,  *  Stop 
lookin'  at  me  so  brazen.  *  Brer  Rabbit  stood  dar 
wid  his  eyes  shot,  an'  he  ain't  say  nothin*.  Miss 
Nancy  say,  *  Is  you  gone  ter  sleep  ?  You  oughtei 
be  'shame  fer  ter  drap  off  dat  a-way  whar  dey's 
ladies. ' 

"Brer  Rabbit  make  a  bow,  he  did,  an*  'low, 
*  You  tol*  me  not  ter  look  at  you,  an*  ef  I  ain't  ter 
look  at  you,  I  des  ez  well  ter  keep  my  eyes  shot.' 
De  gal  she  giggle  an'  say  Brer  Rabbit  ought  n't 
ter  make  fun  er  her  right  befo'  her  face  an*  eyes 
She  ax  what  her  pap  sont  *im  fer,  an*  he  'low  dat 
Mr.  Man  sont  'im  for  a  dollar  an*  a  half,  an" 
some  bread  an*  butter.  Miss  Nancy  say  she  don't 
b'lieve  'im,  an'  wid  dat  she  run  down  todes  de 
fiel*  whar  her  pa  wuz  workin'  an*  holler  at  *im  — 
'Pap!  Oh,  pap!*  Mr.  Man  make  answer, '  Hey  ?' 
an'  de  gal  say,  *  Is  you  say  what  Brer  Rabbit  say 
you  say  ?'  Mr.  Man  he  holler  back  dat  dat  *s  des 


£72  TOLD  BY  0NCLE  REMUS 

what  he  say,  an*  Miss  Nancy  she  run  back  ter  def 
house,  an*  gi'  Brer  Rabbit  a  dollar  an'  a  half  an* 
some  bread  an*  butter. 

"Time  passed,  aa*  eve'y  once  in  a  while  Brer 
Rabbit  'd  go  ter  de  house  endurin'  de  day,  an*  tell 
Miss  Nancy  dat  her  daddy  say  fer  ter  gi'  'im 
money  an*  some  bread  an*  butter.  An'  de  gal, 
she  *d  go  pail  er  de  way  ter  whar  Mr.  Man  is 
working  an*  holler  an*  ax  ef  he  sesso,  an*  Mr. 
Man  3d  holler  back*  *  Yes,  honey,  dat  what  I  say.* 
It  got  so  atter  while  dat  dey  ain't  so  mighty  much 
money  in  de  keuse,  an*  'bout  dat  time,  Miss 
Nancy ,  she  had  a  beau,  which  he  useter  come  ter 
see  her  eve'y  Suaday,  an"  sometimes  Sat'day,  an' 
it  got  so,  atter  while*  dat  she  won't  skacely  look  at 
Brer  Rabbit 

"Dis  make  *im  laugh,  an*  he  kinder  studied 
how  he  gwineter  git  evea  wid  um,  kaze  de  beau 
pot  ter  fiingin*  his  sass  roun'  Brer  Rabbit,  an'  de 
gai,  she  *d  giggle,  ez  gals  will.  But  Brer  Rabbit 
dea  sot  dar,  he  did,  an*  chaw  his  terbacker,  an' 
spit  in  de  her.  But  one  day  Mr,  Man  hear  'im 
tatkin?   ter  hisse'f  whiles  deyer  workin'  in  de 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  MISS  NANCY  m 

same  fieP,  and  he  ax  Brer  Rabbit  what  he 
sav.  Brer  Rabbit  'low  dat  he  des  tryin'  fer 
ter  Tarn  a  speech  what  he  hear  a  little  bird 
say,  an'  wid  dat  he  went  on  diggin*  in  de 
groun'  des  like  he  don't  keer  whedder  anything 
happen  er  not.  But  dis  don't  satchify  Mr,  Man, 
an1  he  ax  Brer  Rabbit  what  de  speech  is.  Brer 
Rabbit  'low  dat  de  way  de  little  bird  say  it  dey 
ain't  no  sense  ter  it  fur  ez  he  kin  see.  But  Mr. Man 
keep  on  axin*  'im  what 't  is,  an*  bimeby  he  up  an* 
'low, '  De  beau  kiss  de  gal  an'  call  her  honey;  den 
he  kiss  her  ag'in,  an'  she  gi'  'im  de  money.* 

"Mr.  Man  say, ' Which  money?'  Brer  Rabbit 
'low,  'Youer  too  much  fer  me.  Dey  tells  me  dat 
money's  money,  no  matter  whar  you  git  it,  er 
how  you  git  it,  Ef  de  little  bird  wa'n't  singin*  a 
song,  den  1 9m  mighty  much  mistooken.  *  But  dis 
don't  make  Mr.  Man  feel  no  better  dan  what  he 
been  feelin'.  He  went  on  workin',  but  all  de  time 
de  speech  dat  de  little  bird  made  wuz  runnin'  in 
Ids  mm". 

* "  De  beau  kiss  de  gal,  an'  call  her  honey  ; 
Den  he  kiss  her  ag'in,  an"  she  gf  'zm  de  money.' 


^74  TOID  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

"He  keep  on  sayin'  it  over  in  his  min8,  an'  de 
mo'  he  say  it  de  mo'  it  worry  him,  Dat  night  when 
he  went  home,  de  beau  wuz  dar,  an'  he  wuz  mo* 
gayiy  dan  ever.  He  flung  sass  at  Brer  Rabbit,  am* 
Brer  Rabbit  des  sot  dar  an*  chaw  his  terbacker, 
an'  spit  in  de  tier.  Den,  Mr,  Man  went  ter  de 
place  whar  he  keep  his  money,  an"  he  finv  it 
mos*  all  gone,  He  come  back,  he  did,  an'  he 
say,  *Whar  my  money?*  De  gal,  she  ain't 
wanter  have  no  words  'fo'  her  beau,  an"  *spon', 
'You  know  whar  'tis  des  ez  well  ez  i  does,'  an' 
de  man  say, '  I  speck  youer  right  'bout  dat,  an' 
sence  i  does,  I  want  you  ter  pack  up  an'  git  right 
out  ter  dis  house  an'  take  yo*  beau  wid  you, '  An' 
so  dar  'twiiz. 

"De  gal,  she  cry  some,  but  de  beau  muched 
her  up,  an'  dey  went  off  an'  got  married,  an* 
Mr.  Man  tuck  all  his  things  an*  move  o€ 
somers,  I  dunner  whar„  an'  dey  wa'n't  nobody 
lef  iu  dem  neighberhoods  but  me  an'  Brer 
Rabbit/' 

"You  and  Brother  Rabbit?"  cried  the  little 
boy. 


*  r*ku  K" 


De  gal,  she  cry  some,  but  dey  went  off  an'  got  married ' 


BROTHER  RABBIT  AND  MISS  NANCY  27S 

"Dat's  what  I  said,"  replied  Uncle  Remus. 
"'  Me  an*  Brer  Rabbit.  De  gal,  she  tol'  her  chillun 
'bout  how  Brer  Rabbit  had  done  her  an*  der  pa> 
an'  fum  dat  time  on,  aejer  been  persooin'  on 
atter  him,  *' 


JV1 

THB    HARD-HEADED    WOMAN 

UNCLE  RBMUS  had  observed  a  dis- 
position  on  the  part  of  the  little  boy  to 
experiment  somewhat  with  his  elders. 
The  child  had  eome  down  to  the  plantation  from 
the  city  such  a  model  youngster  that  those  who 
took  an  interest  in  his  behavior,  and  who  were 
themselves  living  the  free  and  easy  life  possible 
only  in  the  country  places,  were  inclined  to 
believe  that  he  kad  been  unduly  repressed.  This 
was  particularly  the  case  with  the  little  fellow's 
grandmother,  who  was  aided  and  abetted  by 
Uncle  Remus  himself,  with  the  result  that  the 
youngster  was  allowed  liberties  he  had  never 
had  before.  The  child,  as  might  be  supposed, 
was  quick  to  take  advantage  of  such  a  situation, 
and  was  all  the  time  trying  to  see  how  far  he 
could  go  before  the  limits  of  his  privileges  — 

276 


THE  HABD-HEADED  WOMAN  277 

new  and  inviting  so  far  as  he  was  concerned  — * 
would  be  reached.  They  stretched  very  much 
farther  on  the  plantation  than  they  .would  have 
done  in  the  city,  as  was  natural  and  proper,  but 
the  child,  with  that  adventurous  spirit  common  to 
boys,  was  inclined  to  push  them  still  farther  than 
they  had  ever  yet  gone;  and  he  soon  lost  the  most 
obvious  characteristics  of  a  model  lad. 

Little  by  little  he  had  pushed  his  liberties,  the 
mother  hesitating  to  bring  him  to  task  for  fear  of 
offending  the  grandmother,  whose  guest  she  wass 
and  the  grandmother  not  daring  to  interfere,  for 
the  reason  that  it  was  at  her  suggestion,  implied 
rather  than  direct,  that  the  mother  had  relaxed 
her  somewhat  rigid  discipline.  It  was  natural,  un- 
der the  circumstances,  that  the  little  fellow  should 
become  somewhat  wilful  and  obstinate,  and  he 
bade  fair  to  develop  that  spirit  of  disobedience 
that  will  make  the  brightest  ehild  ugly  and  dis- 
contented. 

Uncle  Remus,  as  has  been  said,  observed  aH 
these  symptoms,  and  while  he  had  been  the  first 
to  deplore  the  system  that  seemed  to  take  all 


278  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

the  individuality  out  of  the  little  fellow,  he 
soon  became  painfully  aware  that  something 
would  have  to  be  done  to  renew  the  discipline 
that  had  been  so  efficacious  when  the  mother 
was  where  she  felt  free  to  exercise  her  whole 
influence. 

"You  ain't  sick,  is  you,  honey?"  the  old  man 
inquired  one  day  in  an  insinuating  tone.  "Kaze  ef 
you  is,  you  better  run  back  ter  de  house  an*  let  de 
white  folks  dose  you  up.  Yo*  mammy  knows  des 
'zackly  de  kinder  physic  you  need,  an*  how  much, 
an*  ef  I  ain't  mighty  much  mistooken,  't  won't  be 
so  mighty  long  'fo'  she  '11  take  you  in  hanY*  The 
child  looked  up  quickly  to  see  whether  Uncle 
Remus  was  in  earnest,  but  he  could  find  nothing 
in  that  solemn  countenance  that  at  all  resembled 
playfulness.  "You  may  be  well,"  the  old  man 
went  on,  "but  dey  's  one  thing  certain  an*  sho'  — 
you  don't  look  like  you  did  when  you  come  ter 
we-all's  house,  an'  you  don't  do  like  you  done. 
You  may  look  at  me  ef  you  wan  ter,  but  I  'm  a* 
tellin'  you  de  fatal  trufe,  kaze  you  ain't  no  mo'  de 
same  chil'  what  useter  'ten*  ter  bis  own  business 


THE  HARD-HEADED  WOMAN  279 

all  day  an*  night  —  you  ain't  no  mo'  de  same  chil' 
dan  I  'm  dat  ol'  hen  out  dar.  I  'low'd  I  mought  bo 
mistooken,  but  I  hear  yo'  granny  an'  yo'  mammy 
talkin'  t'er  night  atter  you  done  gone  ter  bed,  an* 
de  talk  dat  dey  talked  sho'  did  open  my  eyes,  kaze 
I  never  spected  fer  ter  hear  talk  like  dat." 

For  a  long  time  the  little  boy  said  nothing,  but 
finally  he  inquired  what  Uncle  Remus  had 
heard.  "  I  ain't  no  eavesdrapper,"  the  old  man  re- 
plied, "but  I  hear  'nough  fer  ter  last  me  whiles 
you  stay  wid  us.  I  dunner  how  long  dat  '11  be,  but 
I  don't  speck  it  '11  be  long.  Now  des  look  at  you! 
Dar  you  is  fumblin'  wid  my  shoe  knife,  an'  mos* 
'fo'  you  know  it  one  een'  er  yo'  finger  will  be 
down  dar  on  de  flo',  an'  you  '11  be  a-squallin'  like 
somebody  done  killt  you.  Put  it  right  back  whar 
you  got  it  fum.  Why  n't  you  put  it  down  when  I 
ax  you  ?  —  an'  don't  scatter  my  pegs !  Put  down 
dat  awl!  You  '11  stob  yo'se'f  right  in  de  vitals,  an' 
den  Miss  Sally  will  blame  me.  Laws-a-massy! 
take  yo'  han'  outer  dat  peg  box !  You  '11  git  um  all 
over  de  flo',  an'  dey  '11  drap  thoo  de  cracks.  I  be 
boun'  ef  I  take  my  foot  in  my  han',  an'  go  up  yan* 


280  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

an'  tell  yo'  mammy  how  good  you  is,  she  '11  make 
you  take  off  yo'  cloze  an'  go  ter  bed  —  dat  's  des 
sackly  what  she  '11  do.  An'  dar  you  is  foolin'  wid 
my  nllin's!  —  an',  bless  gracious,  ef  you  ain't  set- 
tin'  right  flat-footed  on  my  shoemaker's  wax,  an* 
it  right  saft !  I  '11  hatter  ax  yo*  mammy  ter  please  *m 
not  let  you  come  down  here  no  mo*  twel  de  day 
you  start  home!" 

"  I  think  you  are  very  cross,"  complained  tha 
child.  "I  never  heard  you  talk  that  way  before. 
A.nd  grandmother  is  getting  so  she  is  n't  as  nice  as 
she  used  to  be." 

"Ah-yi!"  exclaimed  Uncle  Remus  in  a  tri- 
umphant tone.  "I  know'd  it!  you  done  got  so  dat 
you  won't  do  a  blessed  thing  dat  anybody  ax  you 
ter  do.  You  done  got  a  new  name,  an'  'tain't  so 
new  but  what  I  can  put  bofe  han's  behime  me, 
an'  shet  my  eyes  an'  call  it  out.  Eve'ybody  on  de 
place  know  what  'tis,  an'  I  hear  de  ol'  red  rooster 
callin'  it  out  de  yuther  day  when  you  wuz  chunk- 
in'  at  'im."  At  once  the  little  boy  maniiested 
interest  in  what  the  old  negro  was  saying,  and 
when  he  looked  up,  curiosity  shone  in  his  eyes 


THE  HARD-HEADED  WOMAN  381 

"What  did  the  rooster  say  my  name  is.  Uncle 
Remus?" 

"  Why,  when  you  wuz  atter  him,  he  flew'd  up 
on  de  lot  fence,  an*  he  'low,  *Mr.  Hardhead!  Mr. 
Hardhead!'  an*  dat  sho'  is  yo'  name.  You  kin 
squirm,  an'  frown,  an'  twis',  but  dat  rooster  is 
sho'  got  yo'  name  down  fine.  Ef  he  'd  'a'  des 
named  you  once,  maybe  folks  would  'a'  fergot  it 
ofT'n  der  min',  but  he  call  de  name  twice  des  ez 
plain  ez  he  kin  speak,  an'  dar  you  sets  wid  Mr, 
Hardhead  writ  on  you  des  ez  plain  ez  ef  de  rooster 
had  a  put  it  on  you  wid  a  paint-brush.  You  can't 
rub  it  off  an'  you  can't  walk  roun'  it." 

"  But  what  must  I  do,  Uncle  Remus  ? " 

"  Des  set  still  a  minnit,  an'  try  ter  be  good.  It 
may  th'ow  you  in  a  high  fever  fer  ter  keep  yo' 
han's  outer  my  things,  er  it  may  gi'  you  a  agur 
fer  ter  be  like  you  useter  be,  but  it  '11  pay  you  in 
de  long  run;  it  mos'  sholy  will." 

"  Well,  if  you  want  me  to  be  quiet,"  said  the 
child,  "you  '11  have  to  tell  me  a  tale." 

"  Ef  you  sit  still  too  long,  honey,  I  'm  afeard  de 
creeturs  on  de  plantation  will  git  de  idee  dat 


3882  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

sump'n  done  happen.  Dar  's  de  ol'  sow  —  you 
ain't  run  her  roun'  de  place  in  de  last  ten  minnits 
er  sech  a  matter;  an'  dar  's  de  calf,  an*  de  chick- 
ens, an'  de  Guinny  hens,  an'  de  ol"  gray  gooses  — 
dey  '11  git  de  idee  dat  you  done  broke  yo'  leg  er 
yo'  arm;  an'  dey  '11  be  fixin'  up  fer  ter  have  a 
frolic  if  dey  miss  you  fer  longer  dan  fifteen  min- 
nits an'  a  half.  How  you  gwineter  have  any  fun  ef 
you  set  an'  lissen  ter  a  tale  stidder  chunkin'  an' 
runnin'  de  creeturs  ?  I  mos'  know  you  er  ailin*  an' 
by  good  rights  de  doctor  oughter  come  an'  look 
at  you." 

The  little  boy  laughed  uneasily.  He  was  not  the 
first  that  had  been  sobered  by  the  irony  of  Uncle 
Remus,  which,  crude  though  it  was,  was  much 
mors  effective  than  downright  quarreling.  "Yas- 
ser!" Uncle  Remus  repeated,  "de  doctor  oughter 
come  an'  look  at  you  —  an'  when  I  say  doctor,  I 
mean  doctor,  an'  not  one  er  deze  yer  kin'  what 
goes  roun'  wid  a  whole  passel  er  pills  what  ain't 
bigger  dan  a  gnat's  heart.  What  you  want  is  a 
great  big  double- j'inted  doctor  wid  a  big  black 
beard  an'  specks  on,  what  '11  fill  you  full  er  de 


THE  HARD-HEADED  WOMAN  283 

rankest  kin'  er  physic.  Ez  you  look  now,  you  put 
me  in  min*  er  de  'oman  an*  de  dinner-pot;  dey 
ain't  no  two  ways  'bout  dat." 

"If  it  is  a  tale,  please  tell  it,  Uncle  Remus,8' 
said  the  little  boy. 

"Oh,  it  sho  is  a  tale  all  right!"  exclaimed  the 
old  man,  "  but  you  ain't  no  mo'  got  time  fer  ter 
hear  it  dan  de  birds  in  de  tree.  You  'd  hatter  set 
still  an'  lissen,  an'  dat  'ud  put  you  out  a  whole 
lot,  kaze  dar  's  de  chickens  ter  be  chunked,  an'  de 
pigs  ter  be  crippled  an'  a  whole  lot  er  yuther 
things  fer  ter  be  did,  an'  dey  ain't  nobody  else  in 
de  roun'  worl'  dat  kin  do  it  ez  good  ez  you  kin. 
Well,  you  kin  git  up  an'  mosey  long  ef  you  want- 
er,  but  I  'm  gwineter  tell  dish  yer  tale  ef  I  hatter 
r'ar  my  head  back  an"  shet  my  eyeballs  an'  tell  it 
ter  myse'f  fer  ter  see  ef  I  done  fergit  it  off'n  my 


min*. 


"  Well,  once  *pon  a  time  —  it  mought  'a'  been 
in  de  year  One  fer  all  I  know  —  dey  wuz  a  'oman 
dat  live  in  a  little  cabin  in  de  woods  not  so  mighty 
fur  fum  water.  Now,  dis  'oman  an*  dis  cabin 
mought  'a*  been  in  de  Nunited  State  er  Georgy, 


S34  TOLD  BY  U^CLE  REMUS 

er  dey  mought  *a*  been  in  de  Nunited  State  er 
Yallerbammer  - —  you  kin  put  um  whar  you 
please  des  like  I  does.  But  at  one  place  er  de 
yuther,  an*  at  one  time  er  nuther,  dis  soman  live 
dar  des  like  1  'm  a-tellin*  you.  She  live  dar,  she 
did,  an'  fus'  an*  las*  dey  wuz  a  mighty  heap  er 
talk  about  her.  Some  say  she  wuz  black,  some 
say  she  wuz  mighty  nigh  white,  an*  some  say  she 
wa*  n't  ez  black  ez  she  mought  be;  but  dem  what 
know'd,  dey  say  she  wuz  nine  parts  Injun  an'  one 
part  human,  an'  I  speck  dat  *s  des  ez  close  ter 
trufe  ez  we  kin  git  in  dis  kinder  wedder  ef  we 
gwineter  keep  cool. 

"Fum  all  I  kin  hear  —  an*  I  been  keepin'  bofe 
years  *ride  open,  she  wuz  a  monstus  busy  *oman, 
kaze  it  wuz  de  talk  'mongst  de  neighbors  dat  she 
done  a  heap  er  things  what  she  ain't  got  no  bus- 
iness ter  do.  She  had  a  mighty  bad  temper,  an* 
her  tongue  wuz  a-runnin'  fum  mornin'*  twel 
night.  Folks  say  dat  'twuz  long  an'  loud  an' 
mighty  well  hung.  Dey  lissen  an*  shake  der  head, 
#tn"  atter  while  word  went  roun*  dat  de  'oman 
done  killt  her  daughter.  Ez  ter  dat,  I  ain't  never 


THE  HARD-HEADED  WOMAN  285 

is  hear  de  rights  un  it;  she  mought,  an'  den  ag'in. 
she  mought  n't  —  dey  ain't  no  tellin*  —  but  dey 
wuz  one  thing  certain  an*  shos  she  done  so  quare, 
dat  folks  say  she  cut  up  des  like  a  Friday-born 
fool. 

"  Her  ol'  man,  he  done  de  best  dat  he  could.  He 
went  'long  an'  ten*  ter  his  own  business,  an*  when 
her  tongue  *gun  ter  clack,  he  sot  down  an*  made 
fish-baskets,  an*  ax-helves.  But  dat  ain't  make  no 
diffunce  ter  de  'oman,  kaze  she  wuz  one  deze  yei 
kin'  what  could  quoil  all  day  whedder  dey  wuz 
anybody  fer  ter  quoil  at  er  not.  She  quoiled  an* 
she  quoiled.  De  man,  he  ain't  say  nothin'  but  dis 
des  make  her  quoil  de  mo'.  He  split  up  kin'lin* 
an'  chopped  up  wood,  an'  still  she  quoil';  h# 
fotch  home  meal  an'  he  fotch  home  meat,  bvk 
still  she  quoil'.  An'  she  'fuse  fer  ter  cook  what 
he  want  her  to  cook;  she  wuz  hard-headed  des 
like  you,  an'  she  'd  have  her  own  way  ef  she 
died  fer  it. 

**  Ef  de  man,  he  say, '  Please  *m  cook  me  some 
grits,'  she  'd  whirl  in  an'  bile  greens;  ef  he  ax  fer 
fried  meat,  she  'd  bake  him  a  hoe-cake  er  corn 


«S6  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

bread.  Ef  he  want  roas'  tater  she  'd  bile  him  a 
mess  er  beans,  an'  ail  de  time,  she  *d  be  givin'  'im 
de  wuss  kinder  sass.  Oh,  she  wuz  a  honey!  An' 
when  it  come  ter  low-down  meanness,  she  wuz 
rank  an'  ripe.  She  'd  take  de  sparrer-grass  what 
he  fotch,  an*  kindle  de  fire  wid  it.  She  'd  burn  de 
spar'-ribs  an'  scorch  de  tripe,  an'  she  'd  do  eve'y 
kinder  way  but  de  right  way,  an'  dat  she 
would  n't  do,  not  ter  save  yo'  life. 

"Well,  dis  went  on  an'  went  on,  an'  de  man 
ain't  make  no  complaints ;  he  des  watch  an'  wait 
an*  pray.  But  atter  so  long  a  time,  he  see  dat  dat 
ain't  gwine  ter  do  no  good,  an*  he  tuck  an'  change 
his  plans.  He  spit  in  de  ashes,  he  did,  an'  he  make 
a  cross-mark,  an'  turn  roun'  twice  so  he  kin  face 
de  sunrise.  Den  he  shuck  a  gourd-vine  flower 
over  de  pot,  an*  sump'n  toF  'im  fer  ter  take  his 
res*  an*  wait  twel  de  moon  come  up.  All  dis  time 
de  'ornan,  she  wuz  a  quoilin',  but  bimeby,  she 
went  on  'bout  her  business,  an'  de  man  had  some 
peace;  but  not  fer  long.  He  ain't  no  more  dan  had 
time  fer  ter  put  some  thunderwood  buds  an'  some 
calamus-root  in  de  pot,  dan  here  she  come,  an' 


'  Den  he  shuck  a  gourd-vine  flower  over  de  pot ' 


TBS  EAKB-MRADED  WOMAN  m 

ibe  come  a-quoilin*.  She  come  in  sh«  did,  ams  $&e 
atam  things  roun*  des  like  you  slams  de  gate 

"  Atter  kickin*  up  a  rippet,  an"  makin*  de  place 
hot  ez  she  kin,  de  *oman  made  a  big  fire  un  de 
pot,  an*  flew'd  roun*  dar  des  like  she  tryin  fei  tei 
cook  a  sho*  'nough  supper.  She  made  some 
dumplin's  an*  flung  um  in  de  pot;  den  she  put  in 
some  peas  an*  big  pods  er  red  pepper*  an5  on  top 
er  all  she  flung  a  sheep's  head.  De  man,  he  sot 
dar,  an*  look  straight  at  de  cross-mark  what  he 
done  made  in  de  ashes.  Atterwhile,  he  *guB  to 
smell  de  calamus-root  a-cookin5"  an'  he  know'd  by 
dat,  dat  sump'n  wuz  gwineter  happen. 

"  De  pot,  it  biled,  an'  biled9  an'  fus*  news  yon 
know,  de  sheep's  head  'gun  ter  butt  de  dumplin's 
out,  an'  de  peas,  dey  flew'd  out  an"  rattled  on  de 
flo'  like  a  bag  er  bullets  done  busted.  De  ornan, 
she  run  fer  ter  see  what  de  matter  is,  an*  when  she 
got  close  ter  de  pot  de  steam  rum  de  thunderwood 
hit  her  in  de  face  an*  eyes  an'  come  mighty  nigh 
takin'  her  breff  away.  Dis  kinder  stumped  'er  fer 
a  minnit,  but  she  had  a  temper  big  nougb  f'er  ter 
drag  a  bull  down,  an'  all  she  had  ter  do  when  she 


«e  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

lose  fee?  breff  wuz  ter  fling  her  han's  in  de  a'r  an* 
fetch  a  snort,  an'  dar  she  wuz. 

*sShe  moughter  been  mad  befo',  but  dis  tim<B 
she  wui  mighty  nigh  plum'  crazy.  She  look  at  de 
pot,  an'  she  look  at  her  ols  man;  she  shot  her  eye- 
balls an'  clinched  her  han's;  she  yerked  off  her 
head-hankcher,  an*  pulled  her  ha'r  loose  fum  de 
wroppin '-strings;  she  stomped  her  foot,  an' 
tniashed  her  toofies  tergedder, 

*  She  railed  at  de  pot;  she  'low,  *  What  ail  you, 
you  black  Dickunce  ?  I  b'lieve  youer  de  own  brer 
ter  de  OF  Boy!  You  been  foolin*  wid  me  fer  de 
longest,  an*  I  ain't  gwine  ter  put  up  wid  it!  I  'm 
gwineter  tame  you  down ! '  Wid  dat,  she  flung  off 
de  homespun  sack  what  she  been  w'arin'  an'  run 
outer  de  house  an'  got  de  ax. 

44  Her  oP  man  say,  *  Whar  you  gwine,  honey  ?* 
She  Mow,  *  I  'm  a  gwine  whar  I  'm  agwine,  dat  'a 
whar  I  "m  a  gwine ! '  De  man,  he  ain't  spon'  ter  dat 
kindei  talk,  an'  de  'oman>  she  went  out  in  back 
yard  fer  ter  hunt  fer  de  ax.  Look  like  she  gwineter 
keep  on  gittin'  in  trouble,  kaze  de  ax  wuz  on  top 
er  de  wood  what  de  man  done  pile  up  out  dar. 


THE  HARD-HEADED  WOMAN  «S 

It  wux  layin'  up  dar,  de  ax  wue,  det  «*  siaaa- 
ehendicklar  ez  you  please,  but  time  it  see  fee* 
rominr  — -  " 

"But,  Uncle  Remus!*'  the  ehiid  exclaimed, 
"how  could  the  ax  see  her?" 

The  old  negro  looked  at  the  little  boy  with  &b 
expression  of  amazed  pity  on  his  face.  He  looked 
all  around  the  room  and  then  raised  his  eyes  to 
the  rafters,  where  a  long  cobweb  was  swaying 
siowiy  in  a  breeze  so  light  that  nothing  else 
wouid  respond  to  its  invitation.  Then  he  sighed 
and  closed  his  eyes.  "  I  wish  yo*  pa  wu2  here  right 
now,  I  mos*  sholy  does  —  yo'  pa,  what  useter  set 
right  whar  youer  settin't  You  done  been  raised  in 
town  whar  dey  can't  tell  a  ax  fum  a  wheel barrer. 
Ax  ain't  got  no  eye!  Well,  whoever  is  hear  de 
beat  er  dat!  Ef  anybody  else  is  got  dat  idee,  I  '11 
be  much  erbleege  ef  you  7U  show  um  ter  me.  Here 
you  is  mighty  nigh  big  'nough  fer  eat  raw  tater 
widout  havin'  de  doctor  called  in,  an*  a-setim*  dar 
fcfcyiii*  dat  axes  ain't  got  no  eyes.  Wei],  you:  ax  yo' 
frtre'tna  when  you  go  back  let  de  house  an' 
"*fi«t  she  sav. 


I9&  TOLD  BY  UMCLS  BEMUS 

"Now,  le*  me  see?  wharbouts  wus  I  at?  Oh* 
yes!  De  ax  wux  on  top  er  woodpile,  an*  when  it 
seed  de  'oman  comin*,  it  des  turned  loose  an'  slip 
down  on  de  yuther  side.  It  wa'n't  tryin'  fer  ter 
show  off,  like  I  *ve  seed  some  folks  'fo'  now;  it 
des  turned  loose  eve*ything  an'  fell  down  on  de 
yuther  side  er  de  woodpile.  An*  whiles  de  'oman 
wu2  gwme  roun*  atter  it,  de  ax,  it  clum  back 
on  top  er  de  woodpile  an"  fell  off  on  t'er  side. 
Dem  what  handed  de  tale  down  ter  me  ain't 
say  how  long  de  "oman  an'  de  ax  keep  dis 
up,  but  ef  a  ax  is  got  eyes,  it  ain't  got  but  one 
leg,  an'  it  must  not  V  been  so  mighty  long  'fo' 
de  'oman  cotch  up  wid  it  —  an'  when  she  did 
she  wuk  so  mad  dat  she  could  'a'  bit  a  railroad 
^raok  in  two,  ef  dey  *d  'a*  been  one  anywhar'a 
^oun"  dar. 

i£  Well,  she  got  de  ax,  an'  it  look  like  she  wuz 
madder  dan  ever.  De  man,  he  say,  *  Better  let  de 
pot  'lone,  honey;  ef  you  don't  you  '11  sholy  wish 
you  hadder."  De  'oman,  she  squall  out,  "  I  '11  let 
you  'lone  ef  you  fool  wid  me,  an*  ef  I  do  you 
won't  never  pester  nobody  no  mo*,*  Man,  he  say 


"  De  ax,  it  clum  back  on  top  er  de  woodpile  an'  fell  off  on  der  side  " 


THE  HARD-HEADED  WOMAN  <a» 

-1  'm  a-tellin'  you  de  trufe,  honey,  an'  dis  may  De 
de  las'  chance,  you  '11  git  ter  hear  it.* 

"De  'oman  raise  de  ax  like  she  gwineter  hit 
de  man,  an'  den  it  look  like  she  tuck  a  n'er  no- 
tion, an'  she  start  todes  de  pot.  De  man,  he  'low, 
'You  better  hear  me,  honey!  You  better  drap  de 
ax  an'  go  out  doors  an'  cool  yo'se'f  off,  honey!' 
It  seem  like  he  wuz  a  mighty  saf '-spoken  man, 
wid  nice  feelin's  fer  all.  De  'oman,  she  say,  *  Don't 
you  dast  ter  honey  me  —  ef  you  does  I  '11  brain 
you  stidder  de  pot!'  De  man  smole  a  long  smile 
an'  shuck  his  head ;  he  say,  '  All  de  same,  honey, 
you  better  pay  'tention  ter  deze  las'  words  I  'm 
a-tellin'  you!' 

"But  de  'oman,  she  des  keep  right  on.  She  'd 
*a'gone  faster  dan  what  she  did,  but  it  look  like 
de  ax  got  heavier  eve'y  step  she  tuck  —  heavier 
an'  heavier.  An'  it  look  like  de  house  got  bigger 
—  bigger  an'  bigger;  an'  it  seem  like  de  do'  got 
wider  —  wider  an'  wider !  She  moughter  seed  all 
dis,  an'  I  speck  she  did,  but  she  des  keep  right  on, 
shakin'  de  ax,  an'  moufm'  ter  herse'f.  De  man, 
he  holler  once  mo'  an'  fer  de  las'  time,  *  Don't  let 


292  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

oP  Nick  fool  you,  honey,  ef  you  does,  he  sho  will 
git  you!' 

j  "  But  she  keep  on  an'  keep  on,  an'  de  house  got 
bigger  an*  de  do'  got  wider.  De  pot  see  her  corn- 
in',  an'  it  got  fum  a-straddle  er  de  fire,  whar  it  had 
been  settin'  at,  an'  skipped  out'  de  do*  an'  out  in 
de  yard."  Uncle  Remus  paused  to  see  what  ef- 
fect this  statement  would  have  on  the  child,  but 
save  the  shadow  of  a  smile  hovering  around  his 
mouth,  the  youngster  gave  no  indication  of  unbe- 
lief. "De  'oman,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  with  a 
chuckle  that  was  repressed  before  it  developed 
into  a  laugh,  "look  like  she  'stonish',  but  her 
temper  kep'  hot,  an'  she  run  out  atter  de  pot  wid 
de  ax  ez  high  ez  she  kin  hoi'  it;  but  de  pot  keep 
on  gwine,  skippin'  'long  on  three  legs  faster  dan 
de  'oman  kin  run  on  two;  an'  de  ax  kep'  on  git- 
tin'  heavier  an'  heavier,  twel,  bimeby,  de  'oman 
hatter  drap  it.  Den  she  lit  out  atter  de  pot  like  she 
wuz  runnin'  a  foot-race,  but  fast  ez  she  run,  de 
pot  run  faster. 

"De  chase  led  right  inter  de  woods  an'  down 
de  spring  branch,  an'  away  over  yander  beyan*  de 


Den  she  lit  <ntt  atter.de  vat  like  she  vmz  runnvtC  a.  foot-race 


THE  HARD-HEADED  WOMAN  £95 

creek.  De  pot  went  so  fast  an*  it  went  so  fur  dat 
atter  while  de  'oman  'gun  ter  git  weak.  But  de 
temper  she  had  helt  'er  up  fer  de  longest,  an*  mo" 
dan  dat,  eve'y  time  she  'd  sorter  slack  Up,  de  pot 
would  dance  an*  caper  roun'  on  its  three  legs, 
an'  do  like  it 's  givin'  her  a  dar'  —  an'  she  keep 
a-gwine  twel  she  can't  hardly  go  no  furder. 

"De  man  he  stayed  at  de  house,  but  de  'oman 
an'  de  pot  ain't  git  so  fur  but  what  he  kin  hear  um 
scufflin'  an'  scramblin'  roun'  in  de  bushes,  an'  he 
set  dar,  he  did,  an'  look  like  he  right  sorry  fer 
anybody  what 's  ez  hard-headed  ez  de  'oman. 
But  she  look  like  she  bleeze  ter  ketch  dat  pot.  She 
say  ter  herse'f  dat  folks  will  never  git  done  talkin* 
'bout  her  ef  she  let  herse'f  be  outdone  by  a  oF 
dinner-pot  what  been  in  de  fambly  yever  sence 
dey  been  any  fambly 

"So  she  keep  on,  twel  she  tripped  up  on  a  vine 
er  de  bamboo  brier,  an'  down  she  come!  It  seem 
like  de  pot  seed  her,  an'  stidder  runnin'  fum  'er, 
here  it  come  a-runnin'  right  at  'er  wid  a  chunk  er 
red  fire.  Oh,  you  kin  laugh,  honey,  an'  look  like 
you  don't  b'liev?  me,  but  dat  ain't  make  no  dif- 


fi94  TOLD  BY  UNCLE  REMUS 

funce,  kaze  de  trufe  ain't  never  been  hurted  yit  by 
dem  what  ain*t  b'lieve  it.  I  dunner  whar  de  chunk 
er  fire  come  fum,  an'  I  dunner  how  de  dinner-pot 
'  come  ter  have  motion,  but  dar  'tis  in  de  tale  — 
take  it  er  leave  it,  des  ez  you  bleeze. 

"  Well,  suh,  when  de  'oman  fell,  de  pot  made  at 
her  wid  a  chunk  er  red  fire.  De  'oman  see  it  corn- 
in',  an'  she  set  up  a  squall  dat  mought  er  been 
heard  a  mile.  She  jump  up,  she  did,  but  it  seem 
like  she  wuz  so  weak  an'  tired  dat  she  can't  stan' 
on  her  foots,  an'  she  start  fer  ter  fall  ag'in,  but  de 
dinner-pot  wuz  dar  fer  ter  ketch  'er  when  she  fell. 
An'  dat  wuz  de  last  dat  anybody  yever  is  see  er 
de  hard-headed  'oman.  Leas'  ways,  she  ain't 
never  come  back  ter  de  house  whar  de  man  wuz 
settin'  at. 

"  De  pot  ?  Well,  de  way  dey  got  it  in  de  tale  is 
dat  de  pot  des  laugh  twel  it  hatter  hoi'  its  sides 
fer  ter  keep  f um  crackin'  open.  It  come  a-hoppin' 
an*  a-skippin'  up  de  spring  paff.  It  hopped  along, 
it  did,  twel  it  come  ter  de  house,  an'  it  made  a 
runnin'  jump  right  in  de  do'.  Den  it  wash  its  face* 
an*  scrape  de  mud  off'n  it  foots,  an'  wiped  off  d« 


THE  HARD-HEADED  WOMAN  3@i 

grease  what  de  'oman  been  too  lazy  fer  ter  deasi 
off.  Den  it  went  ter  de  fireplace,  an'  kinder  sprad- 
dle out  so  it  '11  fit  de  bricks  what  been  put  dar  fer 
it  ter  set  on. 

M  De  man  watch  all  dis,  but  he  ain't  say  noth- 
in*.  Alter  while  he  hear  a  mighty  bilin'  an'  bub- 
blin'  an*  when  he  went  ter  look  fer  ter  see  what 
de  matter,  he  see  his  supper  cookin'  an'  atter  so 
long  a  time,  he  fish  it  out  an'  eat  it  He  eat  in 
peace,  an*  atter  dat  he  ailers  had  peace.  An'  when 
you  wanter  be  hard  headed,  an'  have  yo'  own 
way,  you  better  b'ar  in  min'  de  'oman  an9  cte 
dinner-pot" 


